1. Running head: DEFINING MY VALUES 1
Defining and Living My Values
Heather Reynolds
California Baptist University
Author Note
This paper is being submitted to Professor Deborah Bobst DNP, MSN, RN, in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for Christian Leadership in Nursing/ Case Management, NUR470
B, on September 20, 2016.

2. DEFINING MY VALUES 2
Defining and Living My Values
Values, although seemingly innocent to some, play a profound purpose in every
individuals life whether they know it or not. Values help guide our lives, add meaning and
purpose to our lives, and help us feel fulfilled on a daily basis. By identifying our values we can
begin to enhance our lives and even our careers as nurses. Some of the values I cherish most are
balance, family, and growth. My values support a Christian World View, as they strengthen my
relationship with God, and they will also have a huge impact on my life as a new graduate nurse.
Values begin to develop very early on in life and have a tendency to change over time.
There are many factors that contribute to the development of values. According to authors
Margaret A. Burkhardt and Alvita K. Nathaniel, the development of values “is a product of the
sociocultural environment and it includes cultural, historical, familial, social, and institutional
influences” (2014, p. 109). My culture, family, social, and institutional influences have
undoubtably played a major role in the development of my values.
Throughout nursing school I have identified and evaluated my values on many occasions.
Some of my values I cherish most are establishing and maintaining balance within my life,
maintaining my relationships with my family, and continuing to grow as an individual.
Establishing and maintaining balance in my life is very important, especially as a mom and
nurse. Some ways I maintain balance within my life is by staying active and exercising. I love
taking my daughter on long scenic walks and finding little moments to have some quiet time to
myself. I also feel the most balanced when I am able to attend church on a regular basis, as this
helps strengthen my faith and relationship with God.
Being family-oriented is very important to me. Both my mom and my sister are my best
friends and our family is extremely close. I do not get to see them or talk to them every day, but

3. DEFINING MY VALUES 3
it is a goal of mine to pray for them every day. It is also a goal of mine to instill this same value
within my daughters, and I pray that I will be as close to my girls as my sister and I are to our
mom. Growth is another top value of mine.
If I am not growing as a woman, mother, or Christian I feel as if I am failing myself. The
value of growth is a very meaningful value to me because of the life I use to live prior to
pursuing nursing and becoming a full-time student at California Baptist University (CBU). Since
attending CBU, I have grown so much. I have re-established a relationship with God, I am
becoming a mother for the second time, and I am about to graduate nursing school. I cannot
imagine living a life where I did not strive to grow in positive ways on a continuous basis.
Not only have identifying these values helped in enhancing my life and future career as a
nurse, but they have helped in strengthening my Christian World View. My values support my
Christian World View by reaffirming my purpose that God has laid out for my life. When I am
balanced my purpose is more clearly defined and attainable. My family members also have a
relationship with God and they help keep me grounded in Christ. Growth is not only important
to me, but God. In the book titled, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth am I Here For, by
Rick Warren, it is stated that “ your heavenly Father’s goal is for you to mature and develop the
characteristics of Jesus Christ” (2002, p.179). Warren also goes on to say “spiritual growth is
not automatic. It takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow,
make an effort to grow, and persist in growing” (2002, p. 179).
My values will impact me as a new graduate nurse by continuing to provide guidance,
purpose, fulfillment, and understanding within my life. I need to evaluate my values on a regular
basis and be aware of the possibility of my values affecting me negatively. Values and systems
of beliefs can, at times, hinder the care you provide towards your patients and cause judgmental

4. DEFINING MY VALUES 4
attitudes to arise. Author of the article titled, Delivering Patient-Centered Care in the Midst of a
Cultural Conflict: The Role of Cultural Competence, Josepha Campinha-Bacote states that
“cultivating compassion requires that we understand situations from the other’s point of view
and engage in self-reflection regarding how our actions are affecting the other person and that by
understanding the point of view of the other, you are more likely to respond with compassion
rather than judgment” (2011). It is imperative to try and focus on similarities that you may
share, instead of focusing on the differences. This helps in maintaining a compassionate,
judgmental free attitude.
Very early on in life, individuals begin developing their values. These values are
influenced by our family, social experiences, religious beliefs, and much more. Values serve a
positive purpose by providing our lives with guidance, fulfillment, and meaning. The values I
cherish the most are maintaining balance within my life, having an intimate relationship with my
family, and individual growth. Identifying my values has enhanced my life, as well as given me
more strength as a Christian and future nurse.
References
Campinha-Bacote, J. (2011). Delivering patient-centered care in the midst of a cultural conflict:
the role of cultural competence. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 16,
No. 2, Manuscript 5. doi: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol16No02Man05

5. DEFINING MY VALUES 5
Burkhardt, MA & Nathaniel, AK (2014). Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing, 4th ed.
Cengage Learning: Stamford, CT.
Warren, R. (2002). The purpose driven life: what on earth am i here for? Zondervan: Grand
Rapids, MI. ISBN: 0-310-20571-9