Nursing students' individual values, inclination to ethical and professional values

PURPOSE

To determine the relationship between nursing students' individual values, inclination to ethical and professional nursing values.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted with 315 nursing students in Turkey. Data were collected using the student information form, the Portrait Values Scale, the Inclination to Ethical Values Scale, and Nursing Professional Values Scale.

FINDINGS

The students' basic values are Tradition and Universalism. It was determined that an inclination toward ethical and professional values was quite high.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The fact that nursing students are aware of their individual values how these values affect behaviour can be a guide to human focused values in professional lifes.

Determining the relationship between magnet properties of hospitals and the professional values of the nurses: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To identify the relationship between the characteristics of hospitals in recruiting and retaining nurses (magnet properties) and nurses' professional values.

BACKGROUND

In Turkey, there is a limited number of hospitals with the characteristics to enable nurses to stay in their institutions. The magnet properties of these hospitals and the professional values of the nurses working in these hospitals are not known.

METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional research included 612 nurses working in 6 hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission International. Data were collected using the Nursing Professional Values Scale-Revised (NPVS-R) and the Essentials of Magnetism Scale (EOM II).

RESULTS

The mean NPVS-R score was high 102.0 (26-130). However, the mean EOM II score was found to be low at 2.2 (1.0-3.4). As the magnet properties of the hospitals increased, the professional values of the nurses decreased.

CONCLUSION

There was a negative correlation between the magnet properties of hospitals and the professional values of the nurses.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

The findings of this study highlight the necessity of creating a working environment with high magnet characteristics, which also includes the professional values of nurses. Nurse Managers should investigate the reasons behind the low magnet properties of hospitals, raise awareness, and plan interventions to increase magnet properties of hospitals. Creating a supportive working environment, promotion of the salaries and work environment and decreasing workload are some of the important intervention areas in attracting and keeping nurses in the institution.

Personal values among undergraduate nursing students: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Personal values influence nursing students' development of professional values, which affect professional outcomes, and how nursing students react to different situations. Personal values can be shaped by different factors, including culture, gender, and age.

AIMS

To explore personal values held by nursing students, and to verify if and how gender and year of study affect nursing students' personal values.

RESEARCH DESIGN

A multicenter, cross-sectional study was used.

PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT

The whole population of nursing undergraduate students available at the time was recruited from eight centers of two Universities, composing a sample of 947 students. Demographic data were collected and it was administered the Portrait Values Questionnaire.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Boards of the University of the participating centers.

FINDINGS

The study sample was mainly composed of young (92.6%, n = 877), female (77.3%, n = 732), Italian (95.8%, n = 907), and unmarried (98.6%, n = 934) nursing students. The most important value for nursing students, consistently through the years of nursing school, was Self-transcendence, which has the motivational emphasis on helping others and selflessness. Then, we found that male students had higher levels of Power (p < 0.001) and Achievement (p = 0.031), while female students outscored male students in Benevolence (p = 0.005) and Security (p = 0.006). Year of study showed no statistically significant difference.

DISCUSSION

Nursing students express high levels in hetero-directed values. Male nursing students, although they choose a stereotypically feminine profession, outscored females in stereotypical masculine values such as dominance and success. This is the first study that describes the personal value profile of undergraduate nursing students, according to the Theory of Basic Human Values, and it is a starting point for future research.

CONCLUSION

Nursing educators might want to consider the findings from this study while guiding students in developing awareness for their personal values.

Personal and professional values held by baccalaureate nursing students

BACKGROUND

Values are ideals and beliefs that individuals and groups uphold and lie at the core of the diverse world of human behaviour and are expressed in every human decision and action, both consciously and unconsciously. They represent basic beliefs of what is right, good or desirable and motivate both personal and professional behaviour. In the context of nursing profession, values are essential in order to maintain high standards of the nursing care.

OBJECTIVES

This study was planned to examine changes in nursing students' personal and professional values between entering and graduating from an undergraduate nursing programme. Ethical considerations: Measures to protect participants included obtaining Deaconship of Nursing Faculty approval, obtaining signed informed consent and maintaining confidentiality.

METHODS

This study was designed as longitudinal quality. The research population included 143 students registered at a first grade of a nursing faculty for the 2009-2010 academic year. Data were collected with a Questionnaire Form, the Value Preferences Scale, the Professional Values Precedence Scale and the Nursing Professional Values Scale.

FINDINGS

According to the results, social values have statistical differences in 4-year nursing education. Nursing students in second class have higher score in terms of social values than those in third class. Also, majority of students ranked human dignity as first and justice as second and third from first to fourth classes, and they have very high scores on Nursing Professional Values Scale and its subscales and stated that all items of Nursing Professional Values Scale are very important.

CONCLUSION

As a result, nursing education has vital role in acquiring and maintaining professional values.

Valores personales en estudiantes y profesionales de Enfermería

El estudio explora el contraste intergeneracional entre valores personales en estudiantes y profesionales de enfermería y su ajuste a las predicciones de la teoría del cambio de valores. La muestra estuvo formada por 369 estudiantes y profesionales de enfermería distribuidos en tres grupos: estudiantes (n = 150), profesionales menores de 40 años (n = 114), y profesionales entre 41 y 60 años (n = 105). Los participantes informaron de sus valores en orden de prioridad en un cuestionario abierto. Los informes se organizaron en categorías de valores para analizar las diferencias entre grupos. Se encuentran dos tendencias en el informe de valores personales, que se ajustan en algunos casos a lo predicho por la teoría del cambio de valores y, en otros casos, la contradicen. Se discute la importancia de estos hallazgos y la necesidad de potenciar una formación orientada hacia los valores de la profesión de enfermería. El estudio contribuye al conocimiento del cambio de valores personales en profesionales de enfermería.