The document outlines the importance of values and beliefs in nursing, emphasizing how they underpin professional practice, decision-making, and conflict resolution. It categorizes beliefs into three levels and explores various types of values, including personal, cultural, religious, and motivational values, each influencing behavior and decision-making in healthcare. Professional nursing values, as identified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, include altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice, which guide nurses in providing ethical and patient-centered care.

1. CONCEPT OF VALUES
AND BELIEF
SONIA NOOR
BSN(Gen.)
Nursing instructor

2. Objectives
• At the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
• Define value/belief pattern
• Explain how behaviors related to values
• Identify sources of professional nursing values
• Apply cultural and developmental perspective when
identifying values
• Examine values conflict and resolution in nursing care
situations

3. Introduction:
• Values are important in nursing and health care as they
• Underpin all aspects of professional practice , including
• Decision making , choose between alternatives , and
• Resolve conflict . Values can be divided into three levels
of expressions
1. Beliefs
2. Values themselves
3. Attitudes

4. Terminologies
• Value: Beliefs or attitudes about the worth of a person,
object, idea or action.
• Belief: Beliefs are the assumptions we make about
ourselves, about others in the world and about how we
expect things to be.
• Attitude: Feelings toward a person, object or idea (e.g,
acceptance, rejection, etc.)

5. Relevent terms
• Assumptions: Assumptions are beliefs that are regarded as so
valuable and obviously correct that they are taken for granted and
rarely examined or questioned.
• Honesty: A facet of moral character that connotes positive and
virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, and
straightforwardness, along with the absence of lying, cheating, or
theft.
• Code: Any system of principles, rules or regulations relating to one
subject.
• Conduct : The manner of guiding or carrying one’s self, personal
deportment, mode of action, behavior.

6. Continue…
• Decision : A choice or judgment
• Environment: The surroundings of, and influences on, a
particular item of interest.
• Moral: Of or relating to principles of right and wrong in
behavior, especially for teaching right behavior.
• Attitude is the way a person expresses or applies their beliefs
and values, and is expressed through words and behavior.
Example: I get really upset when I hear about cruelty to children
and animals, or I hate school

7. Belief
• A Belief is a state of the mind which regards a thing to be true or
Having confidence that something is true .
• A belief is an internal feeling that something is true, even though that
belief may be unproven & irrational, e.g I belief that there is life after
death
• Beliefs are the assumptions and convictions that are held to be true,
by an individual or a group, regarding concepts, events, people, and
things
• Beliefs can be influenced by many factors , including knowledge ,
experience , culture , and religion.
• The most basic value and the one that changes least

8. Continue…
• Beliefs goes beyond the obvious, based more on faith
than fact.
• One of the main beliefs in nursing is that patients will get
better with good care .
• Another belief may be that this, rather than other work, is
ultimately satisfactory .
• Belief Systems: Often deal with issues which cannot be
explained by reason or logic – creation, the meaning of
life, afterlife

9. Continue..
• A belief system: is an ideology or set of principles that
helps us to interpret our everyday reality. This could be in
the form of religion, political affiliation, philosophy, or
spirituality, among many other things.
• These beliefs are shaped and influenced by a number of
different factors. Our knowledge on a certain topic, the
way we were raised, and even peer pressure from others
can help to create and even change our belief systems.

10. Types of Beliefs
• Commendatory (“I believe I am a good writer)
• Existentialism (Belief in God)

11. Value
• They are also beliefs and are defined as: “Beliefs about what is
desirable or good and what is undesirable or bad”
• Values are ideals that guide or qualify your personal conduct,
interaction with others, and involvement in your career. Like
morals, they
• Help you to distinguish what is right from what is wrong & Inform
you on how you can conduct your life in a meaningful way.
• Value is a measure of the worth or importance a person attaches
to something; our values are often reflected in the way we live
our lives. Example I value freedom of speech.

12. Types of values
• Religious Value
• Personal Value
• Cultural Value
• Humanistic
• Optimistic
• Democratic
• Motivational Value

13. Types of values
Religious values
• Religious values are ethical principles founded in religious
traditions, texts and beliefs. In contrast to personal
values, religious-based values are based on scriptures
and a religion’s established norms
• They help people determine which actions to take, and to
make judgments about right or wrong and good or bad

14. Continue…
• Personal Values
• Personal values are principles that define you as an
individual. Personal values, such as honesty, reliability,
and trust, determine how you will face the world and
relate with people
• Cultural Values
• Cultural values, like the practice of your faith and
customs, are principles that sustain connections with your
cultural roots. They help you feel connected to a larger
community of people with similar backgrounds.

15. Continue…
Humanistic values
• They proclaim the importance of the individual.
• Respect the whole person.
• Treat people with respect and dignity.
• Assume that every one has intrinsic worth.
• View all people as having the potential for growth & development.
Optimistic values
• They post that people are basically good.
• Progress is possible and desirable.
• Rationality, reason, and goodwill are the tools for making progress.

16. Democratic Values
• They assert the sanctity of the individual.
• The right of people to be free from misuse of power.
• Use of fair and equitable treatment for all.
• Need for justice through rule of law.
Motivational Values
• Internal and external Values that stimulate desire and
energy in people to be continually interested and committed
to a job, role or subject, or to make an effort to attain a goal

17. Continue…
Motivational Value
• Achievement: personal success through demonstrating
competence according to the social standards
• Hedonism: pleasure and sensuous gratification for oneself
• Stimulation: excitement, novelty and challenge in life
• Self Direction: independent thought and action choosing,
creating, exploring
• Power: social status and prestige, control or dominance over
the people and resources

18. Continue..
Rituals
A ritual is a formalized, predetermined set of symbolic
actions performed in a particular environment at a regular,
recurring interval. The set of actions that comprise a ritual
often include, but are not limited to, such things as
recitation, singing, group processions, repetitive dance,
manipulation of sacred objects Examples are,- Hindus
performing Puja, Catholics taking Communion. Muslims
praying.

19. Values Transmission
• Values are learned through observation and experience.
We accumulate our values from childhood via teaching
and observation of our parents, teachers, religious
leaders, and other influential and powerful people.
• Values are highly influenced by a person’s family,
sociocultural environment, and peer groups. For example,
if a parent consistently demonstrates honesty in dealing,
the child will probably begin to value honesty.
• Similarly, some cultures prefer folk treatment over new
medicine which is learned from culture.

20. Values influence on behavior
• Values can have a positive influence on a person’s behavior as he or
she tries to emulate the conduct he or she holds as valuable.
• Values are one important element that affect who we are and how we
behave towards others.
• Companies can influence a person’s behavior with codes of conduct,
ethics committees, and a punishment and reward system.
• Sometimes there will be a gap between a person’s values and
behavior. Organizational strategies, such as a reward system, can
close that gap.

21. Professional values for nurses
• Be kind and considerate to those for whom they provide care, and to
their careers and families
• Listen to, and work in partnership with those for whom they provide care
• Work constructively with colleagues to provide patientcentered care,
recognizing that multi-disciplinary teamwork, encouraging constructive
challenge from all team members, safety-focused leadership and a
culture based on openness and learning when things go wrong are
fundamental to achieve high quality care.
• Follow their employing or contracting bodies’ procedures when they
have concerns about the safety or dignity of people receiving care

22. Continue…
• Be open and honest with people receiving care if
something goes wrong.
• Nurses ‘ professional values are acquired during
socilizationinto nursing from codes of ethics , nursing
experiences , teachers ,and peers . The American
Association of Colleges of Nursing
• (AACN , 1998) identified five values essential for the
professional nurse altruism , autonomy , human dignity ,
integrity , and social justice .

23. Continue…
• Altruism is a concern for the welfare and well-being of others. In
professional practice, altruism is reflected by the nurse’s concern
for the welfare of patients, other nurses, and other health care
providers.
• Autonomy is the right to self-determination. Professional
practice reflects autonomy when the nurse respects patients’
rights to make decisions about their health care.
• Human dignity is respect for the inherent worth and uniqueness
of individuals and populations. In professional practice, human
dignity is reflected when the nurse values and respects all
patients and colleagues.

24. Continue…
• Integrity is acting in accordance with an appropriate
code of ethics and accepted standards of practice.
Integrity is reflected in professional practice when the
nurse is honest and provides care based on an ethical
framework that is accepted within the profession.
• Social justice is upholding moral, legal, and humanistic
principles. This value is reflected in professional practice
when the nurse works to ensure equal treatment under
the law and equal access to quality health care

25. Professional Behaviors..
• Demonstrates understanding of cultures, beliefs, and
perspectives of others.
• Advocates for patients, particularly the most vulnerable,
• Takes risks on behalf of patients and colleagues.
• Mentors other professionals.
• Plans care in partnership with patients.
• Honors the right of patients and families to make decisions
about health care,
• Provides information so patients can make informed choices

26. Continue…
• Provides culturally competent and sensitive care.
• Protects the patient’s privacy.
• Preserves the confidentiality of patients and health care
providers.
• Designs care with sensitivity to individual patient
needs.
• Provides honest information to patients and the public.

27. Continue…
• Documents care accurately and honestly.
• Demonstrates accountability for own actions. Supports
fairness and nondiscrimination in the delivery of care.
• Promotes universal access to health care.
• Encourages legislation and policy consistent with the
advancement of nursing care and health care.

28. Typical Value conflict and Sample Controvercies
• Loyalty-honesty
• Competition-Cooperation
• Freedom of press- national
security
• Equality-individualism
• Order-freedom of speech
• Security –excitement
• Generosity –material success
• Rationality –spontaneity
• Tradition –novelty
• Should you tell your parents about your
sester’s drug habit?
• Do you support grading system?
• Is it wise to hold weekly presidential press
conference?
• Are racial quotas for employment fair?
• Should we imprison those with radical
ideas?
• Should you choose a dangerous
profession?
• Is it desirable to give financial help to a
beggar?
• Should you check the odds before placing a
bet?
• Should divorces be easily available?

29. Ethics
• The study of moral rules and principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the
conducting of an activity.
• Justice & Equality
• Respect for human dignity
• Relationships to patients
• The nature of health problems
• The right to self-determination
• Relationships with colleagues and others
• Privacy of patient’s interests
• Conflict Resolution among Nurses
• Collaboration
• Professional boundaries

30. Summary
• Values are learned and change in response to life situations as
persons develops
• How value influence attitudes and how they together influence
professional behavior.
• Most values are derived from four main sources that influence our
personal and professional attitudes(Science ,Culture ,Religion and
Experience)
• People arrive at their own values through Choosing , Prizing and
then acting on them
• Values important in nursing settings as( values of health , health
care , caring and nursing

31. Reference
• Tschudin, Verena ,RGN,…etc. .(1998).Ethics in Nursing.
The caring relationship-2nd
ed. British Library p(28-45).
• SimonS.B.,Howe.,L.W.@Kirshenbaum,H.(1995).Values
• Clarification: Ahandbook of practical strategies for
• Teachers and students .New York: Hart.
• Fundamental of nursing by Erab & Koizer (6th
edition)