Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Professional nursing values: A concept analysis

2017; Wiley; Volume: 53; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/nuf.12211

1744-6198

Bonnie Schmidt, Erin McArthur,

Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues

The aim of this concept analysis is to clarify the meaning of professional nursing values.In a time of increasing ethical dilemmas, it is essential that nurses internalize professional values to develop and maintain a professional identity. However, nursing organizations and researchers provide different conceptions of professional nursing values, leading to a lack of clarity as to the meaning and attributes of this construct.Walker and Avant's (2011) method was used to guide an analysis of this concept.Resources published from 1973 to 2016 were identified via electronic databases and hand-searching of reference lists.A review of the literature was completed and the data were analyzed to identify uses of the concept; the defining attributes of the concept; borderline, related, contrary, and illegitimate examples; antecedents and consequences; and empirical referents.Professional nursing values were defined as important professional nursing principles of human dignity, integrity, altruism, and justice that serve as a framework for standards, professional practice, and evaluation.Further research is needed in the development and testing of professional nursing values theory, and the reassessment of values instruments. Core professional values that are articulated may help unify the profession and demonstrate the value of nursing to the public.