The Relationship Between Intensive Care Nurses' Professional Values, Self-Compassion, and Care Behaviors

Professional values are fundamental determinants of nursing care quality and ethical practice. Self-compassion has emerged as an important psychological resource that may support nurses' well-being and caregiving performance, particularly in demanding environments such as intensive care units. However, limited evidence exists regarding the relationships among professional values, self-compassion and caring behaviours in intensive care nurses.

To examine the relationships between intensive care nurses' professional values, self-compassion and caring behaviours and to determine the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between professional values and caring behaviours.

A descriptive and correlational study was conducted in the intensive care units of a university hospital in eastern Türkiye between November 2025 and February 2026. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Nurses' Professional Values Scale, Short Form Self-Compassion Scale, and Caring Behaviors Inventory. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, hierarchical regression analysis, and PROCESS Macro (Model 4) mediation analysis were used.

A total of 134 intensive care nurses participated in the study. Professional values and caring behaviours were high (149.91 ± 12.02 and 167.32 ± 16.73, respectively), whereas self-compassion was moderate (36.66 ± 8.41). Significant positive correlations were found among professional values, self-compassion, and caring behaviours (p < 0.01). Professional values significantly predicted self-compassion (β = 0.418) and caring behaviours (β = 0.580), while self-compassion significantly predicted caring behaviours (β = 0.222). After controlling for gender, income status, unit of work, and number of patients cared for, self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between professional values and caring behaviours (indirect effect = 0.129; 95% CI: 0.036-0.223). The model explained 53% of the variance in caring behaviours.

Professional values influence intensive care nurses' caring behaviours both directly and indirectly through self-compassion. Self-compassion appears to be an important psychological mechanism that strengthens the positive effect of professional values on caring behaviours. Enhancing self-compassion may contribute to improving nursing care quality in intensive care settings.

Interventions aimed at strengthening self-compassion and educational programmes that promote professional values may enhance caring behaviours among intensive care nurses and improve the quality of patient care.