Care: a value expressed in philosophies of nursing services

Philosophies are written to reflect the values of the institution. Nursing service philosophies describe the essential features of nursing as practiced in a specific site. In this study, 10 philosophies of nursing services from community and teaching hospitals were content analyzed. Care emerged as a theme in each of the philosophies. The care construct was further categorized as general care, care approaches, and care descriptors: goal-directed, quality, safe, cost-effective, effective, competent, and ethical. An exhaustive description of care as proposed by Colaizzi is presented.