Professional Values of Nursing Students in Turkey

Background: Professional values are defined as beliefs about the value or quality of concepts. Nurses have professional values that allow them to function as efficient team members in providing care. These values develop in both theoretical and clinical education throughout the education process. Therefore, undergraduate education enables the individual to realize and internalize the values that the individual has in the nursing profession. Aims: This study was conducted to determine the professional values of nursing students. Methodology: This descriptive type study was conducted in a nursing school with 290 students in Turkey from November to December 2018. Data were collected by using the information form and the Nurses' Professional Values Scale. For data analysis were used SPSS 21.00. Results: 70.7% of the participants were female (n=205), 25.9% (n=75) were third grade students and the mean age was 20.05±1.55. The total score of the professional values of the students participating in the study was 124.58±17.41. It was found that there was a statistically significant positive low-level relationship between the human dignity subscale score and the grade level and the autonomy results of female students were higher than the male students. Conclusions: The nursing students in the study population have high professional values and grade level and gender variables have an effect on professional values.