How do nurses cope when values and practice conflict?

A lack of opportunity to express values in nursing practice and a conflict of ideals with organisational constraints are associated with low job satisfaction and high attrition rates.

To explore the stories of mental health nurses to find how values influence their experience of nursing practice.

Twelve participants, who had between six months', and three years' experience of post-registration practice, were interviewed.

Nurses' values were often established before they started training. Participants described values that were consistent with a commitment to person-centred care and professional and ethical principles expected by governing bodies.

Mental health nurses are aware of the dissonance that arises when there is a conflict between their values and their practice. They respond to this in a variety of ways, notably through acceptance, rejection or innovation.