This study explores the development and rigorous testing of a new self-concept instrument designed specifically for nurses for use in a longitudinal, multicohort study on self-concept, job satisfaction and retention in nursing.The outcomes of this study are that nurses' self-concept can now be measured by a new theoretically and empirically substantiated multidimensional instrument. This will provide potential new directions for nursing research on which to build specific self-concept enhancement and retention strategies. The transitional period of student to graduate nurse can be the subject of ongoing assessment by utilising the new self-concept instrument in conjunction with a valid measure of nurses' job satisfaction. The findings of this study have raised an awareness of the importance of self-concept in the retention challenge for all nurses and in particular the newly registered graduate nurse / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)