Abstract
Studies related to the competencies of clinical nurse leaders as an advanced practice demonstrate that they are an asset to health organizations. However, it is pertinent to use an instrument to measure the self-efficacy of clinical nurse leaders in Portugal to facilitate managers' decision-making. In this study, we aimed to translate, adapt, and validate the Clinical Nurse Leader Self-Efficacy Scale for the Portuguese cultural context. This is a quantitative, observational, and descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample of this study was non-probabilistic and intentional, consisting of 329 nurses responsible for shift and specialist nurses. The translation and validation process followed the internationally recognized guidelines on the psychometric properties of measurement instruments. The factor analysis explained 62.1% of the variance and had a seven-dimensional structure. The seven factors were: Patient-Centred Care; Unit Management; Clinical Leadership; Strategic Leadership; Team Management; Cost Reduction; and Care Planning. The confirmatory analysis showed that the seven-factor model achieved a suitable adjustment in the Portuguese context. The self-efficacy scale for clinical nurse leaders can be considered a valid and reliable instrument for application in Portugal in any care context. This scale allows the assessment of the nurse's perception of their ability to intervene effectively as a clinical leader in their care team.