Professional Nursing Values Altruism Autonomy Integrity
Key Points
- Professional nursing identity is grounded in shared values and ethics.
- Core values include altruism, autonomy, integrity, social justice, and human dignity.
- These values guide nurse behavior toward patients, colleagues, and self.
- Nursing codes and standards convert values into accountable practice expectations.
Pathophysiology
When professional values are weakly applied, care may drift toward convenience, inequity, or depersonalization. Strong value integration improves trust, consistency, and moral clarity in complex care environments.
Classification
- Altruism: Active orientation toward patient well-being and caring service.
- Autonomy: Respect for patient self-determination and informed choice.
- Integrity: Honest, consistent, ethically coherent conduct.
- Social justice: Commitment to fairness, equity, and bias-aware care access.
- Human dignity: Recognition of inherent worth in every patient interaction.
Nursing Assessment
NCLEX Focus
Many scenarios test which core value is most threatened and what immediate nursing action best protects it.
- Assess whether patient dignity is protected in communication and procedures.
- Assess whether treatment decisions preserve patient autonomy.
- Assess for equity barriers affecting access or quality.
- Assess whether workflow pressures are displacing altruistic care priorities.
- Assess self and team conduct for integrity gaps.
Nursing Interventions
- Center care plans on patient goals, preferences, and informed choices.
- Use respectful language and privacy-protective behavior in all settings.
- Challenge inequitable processes through established escalation pathways.
- Maintain truthfulness and transparency in patient and team communication.
- Model values-based behavior for interprofessional teams and learners.
Value Erosion in High-Pressure Settings
Operational pressure can normalize shortcuts that undermine dignity, autonomy, and equity if not actively addressed.
Pharmacology
Values-based medication care includes truthful education, respect for refusal and preferences, and equitable access to safe treatment options.
Clinical Judgment Application
Clinical Scenario
A patient with limited resources cannot afford a recommended discharge medication plan.
Recognize Cues: Social justice and patient safety concerns are both present. Analyze Cues: Financial barriers can create inequitable outcomes. Prioritize Hypotheses: Immediate plan adaptation is needed to protect continuity and dignity. Generate Solutions: Collaborate on lower-cost alternatives and assistance pathways. Take Action: Update plan with feasible options and confirm understanding. Evaluate Outcomes: Adherence potential and equity of care improve.
Related Concepts
- development-of-values-and-value-systems-in-nursing - Explains formation of professional values.
- nursing-advocacy-in-professional-practice - Advocacy actions grounded in core values.
- patient-and-nurse-bill-of-rights-in-care - Rights framework aligned with dignity and autonomy.
Self-Check
- Which nursing value is most central when protecting informed refusal?
- How does social justice differ from general fairness in daily nursing work?
- What unit-level practices help preserve dignity under time pressure?