Tracking the Development of Professional Values in Undergraduate Nursing Students

ABSTRACT In the current nursing shortage, nurses are frequently making significant patient care decisions concerning value-laden clinical issues. A program evaluation study was conducted to track professional values over time from entry into a baccalaureate program to graduation. Nursing students completed a survey measuring professional values upon entry into and exit from the program. Comparative analysis of pretest and posttest group means demonstrated statistically significant increases in total scores. The highest pretest value items were also the highest on the posttest, with the addition of patient advocacy. Patient advocacy jumped 16 places from pretest to posttest to become the highest-ranked statement upon exit from the program. All of the values rated as least valued at pretest remained least valued at posttest; however, the means of all but two (participating in nursing research and providing consumer education about products/services) increased significantly. The value statements with mean scores that increased significantly centered on aspects of nursing practice less visible to the lay public and involving interaction with other health care providers. AUTHORS Received: November 12, 2004 Accepted: July 15, 2005 Dr. Leners is Professor and Doctoral Program Coordinator, Dr. Roehrs is Associate Professor, School of Nursing, and Mr. Piccone is Statistical Consultant, Department of Applied Statistics and Research Methods, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado. Address correspondence to Debra Woodard Leners, PhD, RN, CPNP, Professor and Doctoral Program Coordinator, University of Northern Colorado, Gunter Hall, Box 125, Greeley, CO 80639; e-mail: Debra.Leners@unco.edu.