"Nursing is not just about the care we provide, but about the values we uphold—the integrity, compassion, and accountability that shape every decision and action we take. Our values guide us in delivering care that goes beyond tasks, focusing on the dignity and well-being of each patient." (Lynn, 2024, para. 6)
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COMPASSION
I value compassion and believe it is essential in nursing as it lays the foundation for high-quality care. Compassion is demonstrated through thoughtful actions, supportive behaviors, language, and meaningful interactions that foster relational understanding (Durkin et al., 2020, p. 7). Compassion also plays a vital role in fostering strong relationships between nurses, patients, and their families. When a nurse listens actively, shows empathy, and provides emotional support, it cultivates trust and openness, paving the way for deeper connections and improved patient outcomes. A study examining the role of compassionate care in medicine notes that compassion improves patient provider communication and contributes to positive clinical outcomes for patients (Watts, Patel, Kostov, Kim, & Elkbuli, 2023, p. 2).
INTEGRITY
I also value integrity, which involves being honest and having a strong commitment to moral principles. Integrity is essential in nursing because it fosters trustworthiness (Faubion, 2024, para.1). When nurses uphold confidentiality, practice honesty, and carry out their responsibilities fairly and equitably, they create better environments for patients. A nursing publication exploring ways to demonstrate integrity in healthcare settings and its impact notes that nurses with a high level of integrity, promote healthy relationships between coworkers and patients. Patients tend to trust these nurses, and the outcomes are often more positive (Faubion, 2024, para. 2).
ACCOUNTABILITY
Accountability is another core value that I hold in high regard. It involves the responsibility of nurses to uphold professional, ethical, and legal standards while providing safe, high-quality care (CNO, 2024). This means taking ownership of one’s actions—acknowledging mistakes and committing to continuous improvement. When nurses are accountable, they truly focus on what is best for their patients particularly in situations where patients may be at risk of harm. Accountability is multi-faceted, extending to interactions with colleagues, the public, and regulatory bodies, to ensure professional standards are maintained (CNO, 2024). This value also fosters trust, ensures patient safety, and supports an environment of ongoing learning and growth. A study on accountability in healthcare found that this attribute is foundational to safe practice and crucial for aligning nursing actions with standards of quality care (Sharon, Zahavy & Srulovici, 2021, p. 1145).
COLLABORATION
I value collaboration as it is essential for delivering quality care. Collaboration means working effectively as a team, respecting patients, nurses and other healthcare professionals, while exchanging and sharing valuable information to improve patient outcomes. When nurses communicate clearly and effectively with other members of the health care team (e.g., doctors, therapists, dietitians, and support staff) and remain open to embracing other perspectives (beyond their own) they are able to consider and coordinate all aspects of a patients well-being, thus providing comprehensive care. Effective collaboration also impacts the work environment positively as it has been noted to improve conflict management, boosts confidence and innovation and reduces emotional exhaustion–contributing to lower workload and higher job satisfaction among healthcare professionals (Zhou & al., 2023, p. 7). Working collaboratively towards the common goal of patients well being also ensures that all aspects of a patient’s care are addressed thoroughly–leading to better outcomes (AACN, 2024).
Compassion image retrieved from:
https://www.idoinspire.com/blog/motivational-speech-on-compassion-love
Integrity image retrieved from:
https://altmentalhealth.org/integrity-the-connection-principle/
Collaboration image retrieved from:
https://zight.com/blog/effective-collaboration/
Accountability image retrieved from:
https://emergingrnleader.com/personal-accountability/