| Sumario: | Background: Evidence‐based practice (EBP) competence is essential to high‐quality and safe nursing care, yet rigorously validated instruments to assess EBP competencies are lacking in the Italian context. Aims: To translate, culturally adapt, and psychometrically validate the Italian version of the Evidence‐Based Practice Competency Scale for registered nurses and advanced practice nurses. Methods: In 2024, a cross‐sectional online survey of Italian nurses was conducted. The 24‐item EBP Competency Scale was translated and culturally adapted following international guidelines. Content validity was assessed by a 16‐member expert panel, and 405 nurses completed the scale and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The sample was randomly split for exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and measurement invariance by prior EBP training were examined. Results: Content validity indices were high (I‐CVI = 0.75–1.00; S‐CVI = 0.92). A one‐factor model explained 72.1% of variance and showed excellent fit. Reliability was very high (α = 0.974; ICC = 0.83). Multigroup CFA supported configural and metric invariance and partial scalar invariance, with lower latent EBP competence in nurses without prior training. Linking Evidence to Action: The Italian EBP Competency Scale is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing EBP competence among Italian nurses. Its use can support benchmarking, guide EBP‐focused education and implementation strategies, and provide a foundation for future advanced psychometric applications.
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