Core Values

Compassion

Being compassionate is a personal value I strive to uphold and extend to myself and others. Providing compassionate care to patients and their families is essential as a health care provider. As nurses, we may care for people during some of the greatest and hardest moments in their lives. We will not always know what people have been through, or what brought them to the moment we are caring for them. The CNO’s Conflict Prevention and Management document emphasizes the importance of understanding and acknowledging a patients feelings behind their behaviour to uphold client-centered care and prevent nurse-client conflict (College of Nurses of Ontario [CNO], 2018). Nurses must act with kindness and compassion, considering the unique aspects of each individual and their situation to ensure safe, supportive, and ethical care.

Accountability

Accountability to our behaviour and actions is a core value of mine and is vital in nursing practice. When we hold ourselves accountable we expand our capacity to learn and connect, be understood, and understand others. Accountability is a pathway where we may recognize and correct our mistakes, mitigating harm in the future to ultimately provide safer care as nurses. Being accountable professionally (to our patients and colleagues) and personally (to ourselves and our loved ones) demonstrates that we take responsibility for our actions and understand the impact they have on others. The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) Code of Conduct is a document that outlines the standards of practice nurses are professionally accountable to, highlighting the duty to maintain accountability to clients, employers, colleagues, and the public (CNO, 2023). Accountability fosters vulnerable, honest, and trusting relationships that are essential in a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship.

Collaboration

I value collaboration in working together to consider diverse ideas and develop creative ways to solve problems. Collaboration is a fundamental skill and standard in nursing care (CNO, 2023). Nurses need to collaborate and communicate effectively with their colleagues to plan and implement care. Collaboration allows us to utilize individual strengths, knowledge, and experience to build comprehensive care plans. Nurses also collaborate with patients to develop meaningful individualized care plans, as well as multidisciplinary professionals who may be integrated in their care. Working in collaboration involves active listening and respecting different perspectives. Collaboration and the use of clear, professional communication promotes safe, patient-centered care.

Respect

Respect is a vital value in the nursing profession. For me, demonstrating respect means that we value others’ feelings, perspectives, and views, even when they differ from our own. Respecting our patients preserves their dignity as they encounter changing feelings, abilities, and capacity during their experience with health complications. Nurses ought to work respectfully within their health care team to promote the best patient outcomes and foster healthy work environments (CNO, 2023). Respect and consideration of others’ experiences is the foundation for empathetic and ethical care.