This document discusses the importance of identifying core values for nurses. The author identifies their core values as compassion, loyalty, and inner harmony. These values will help the author transition from student to professional nurse and ensure they remain true to themselves despite changes around them. The author explains how their Christian worldview and Parse's Human Becoming Theory reinforce their core values and will allow them to provide quality patient care centered around each patient's values as a new graduate nurse. Remaining grounded in their core values will help the author succeed in their nursing career.

1. Running head: VALUES IN NURSING 1
Values in Nursing
Karla Ruiz
California Baptist University
Author Note
This paper is presented to Professor Bobst in partial fulfillment for the requirements of Christian
Leadership in Nursing Practicum, NUR 471 on September 20th, 2016.

2. VALUES IN NURSING 2
Values in Nursing
Every milestone in life requires change and sacrifice. When a person reaches a milestone
in life it usually shakes our world, involves feelings of uncertainty and doubt. What we once
knew to be true has been turned upside down and seems that we must learn a whole new trade.
Coming close to graduating nursing school puts all of this into perspective. I have mastered
being a student and now will have to become a professional. How will I make this change while
still remaining myself and staying true to what I believe? I must identify and hold onto my core
values: compassion, loyalty, and inner harmony. If I remain living out my core values, the world
around me will change but my heart will remain the same, and that’s what is important.
Enhancing your Life with Core Values
Making the transmission from student to professional is a difficult one and requires
grounding core values. When we know what our core values are and live them out, our life
continues to fill whole and complete. Before coming into the nursing program, my life was
different. Different people surrounded me, my definition of a “hard day” was different, and my
surroundings all in all were different. What remained the same were my values. This exercise
allowed me to realize, that although unintentional, I remained true to my values and therefore
made it this far with the same heart. Looking back to all the hardships I faced throughout nursing
school, if I had not remained true to my valued priorities I would not be where I am today and as
happy as I am.
Identifying my valued priorities will ensure that regardless of what life brings my way I
can live in harmony with a happy heart. Our core values, when met, make us feel whole. It is
important to apply our values in our careers in order to enjoy what we do and know what we
stand for. In the video Sentimental woman need not apply, the emphasis of nursing is placed on

3. VALUES IN NURSING 3
the caring attributes of women but never speak about their values and why they’ve decided to be
a nurse. The video talks about how a nurse should be on the exterior, a “pioneer woman”, with
no family attachments, that isn’t emotional and could withstand the duties of a nurse. Too often
the emphasis is placed on outward actions, rather than internal drive.
Christian Worldview
My morals and spiritual obligations make nursing an extremely gratifying career. Being
available to positively touch the lives of many is important in my spiritual journey as well as in
my professional journey. Serving the Lord, through serving others is spiritually strengthening for
me, and I believe makes all the difference in the world to those I encounter. My core values
include compassion, loyalty, and inner harmony. Compassion cannot be taught; we are simply
born with it. Bible verse Mark 16:15 speaks that we must go out onto the world and preach the
gospel to every creature. In nursing, preaching the gospel to all those we come across helps
fulfill Gods glory in the world. Every person we come across offers an opportunity for a kind
gesture, compassion, understanding, and servitude in the name of the Lord. God has placed this
passion and drive in my heart to serve Him and share His glory.
Human Becoming Theory and Core Values
Since starting nursing school at California Baptist University and implementing Parse’s
(1995) Human Becoming Theory, I feel that my core values have been given a meaning. Parse
(1995) reminds us that as nurses we must be know our patients valued priorities, honor them, and
carry them out. As nurses we cannot push our priorities onto our patient because they might not
be the same. Understanding that just as our priorities are important to us, they are equally
important to our patients. Knowing my valued priorities, as a nurse and observing how
influential they are in my life will allow me to relate to my patients more.

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Implementing Values as a New Graduate Nurse
My values will impact me as a new graduate nurse because they will direct my actions
and define me as a nurse. Knowing that my valued priorities are compassion, loyalty, and inner
harmony will allow me to understand my actions and care towards patients. The compassion in
me will be able to truly feel for the patient and do all I can to make sure their needs are being
met. As a nurse I must be an advocate for my patient, and this is where my loyalty will come into
play. I will stand by my patient at all times and assure that they are being taken care of properly
and represented. My inner harmony stems from my relationship with Christ, which will be
carried out onto my patients. When hired as a new grad, I’m sure that I will be placed into
situations that will make me feel uncomfortable and will waver my beliefs. Grounding in my
core values at all times will ensure that I stay true to myself in order to feel complete.
Sitting down and analyzing what is most important to me is extremely beneficial for the
career I have decided to pursue. Being close to receiving my degree and being sent off into the
world to be a nurse really places my values into perspective. I must remain true to my values:
compassion, loyalty, and inner harmony in order to feel that I am living out my purpose. I will
apply my values to my Christian World View to serve the Lords people. Parses Human
Becoming theory also embraces my core values and allows me to apply both synergistically in
order to improve patient care. As a new grad I must ground myself in my cores and stay true to
them in order to succeed.

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References
Holy Bible. NIV, New King James, ESV.
Parse, R. (1995). Illuminations: The human becoming theory in practice and research. New
York: National League for Nursing Press.
Wilber, Dane. (2016, September 2). Sentimental woman need not apply. Retrieved from
https://youtu.be/f5lvfHO-G7o.