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Professional values held by baccalaureate and associate degree nursing students
Pam Martin1, Susan Yarbrough, Danita Alfred
1College of Nursing and Health Sciences, The University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75799, USA. pmartin@mail.uttyl.edu
Summary
Graduating nursing students’ professional values align across associate (ADN) and baccalaureate (BSN) programs, but differ by sex and ethnicity. Educators should address these variations in nursing education and student mentoring.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Professional Values
- Healthcare Workforce
Background:
- Assessing professional values is crucial for nursing education.
- Understanding value congruency among graduating nurses is essential for future practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the congruency in value orientation of graduating students in baccalaureate (BSN) and associate degree (ADN) nursing programs.
- To identify factors influencing professional values in nursing students.
Main Methods:
- Survey design utilizing the Nurses Professional Values Scale (NPVS).
- Convenience sample of 1,450 graduating nursing students in Texas.
- Descriptive and parametric statistical analyses.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in total NPVS scores between ADN and BSN students.
- ADN students scored higher on 5 of 11 NPVS subscales compared to BSN students.
- Men scored lower than women on the NPVS. Ethnic groups differed on specific value subscales.
Conclusions:
- Professional values are related to sex and ethnicity in graduating nursing students, irrespective of their educational program.
- Nursing faculty must address sex and ethnicity-based value differences in student education and mentoring.
- Implications for curriculum development and fostering inclusive professional values in nursing.