Nursing Students' Professional Value Development: Can We Do Better?

AIM: The purpose of this study was to identify whether differences exist in nursing professional values based on program type and/or geographic location. BACKGROUND: Deliberate inclusion of values formation is critical to nursing education and high-quality nursing care. There is limited research comparing professional values development among students in all types of prelicensure RN programs and no research comparing students' professional values between geographic regions. METHOD: A secondary analysis was completed of original data collected in three descriptive studies using the Nursing Professional Value Scale-Revised®. RESULTS: Findings indicate prelicensure nursing students are educated with the values integrated within the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics. Significant differences (p < .05) were found when comparing geographic locations, program types, and Nursing Professional Value Scale-Revised factor scores. CONCLUSION: Additional research is needed to identify best practices for overall values formation in all program types.

Incivility in the Online Classroom: A Guide for Policy Development.

The growth of online education has created a learning environment that permits nontraditional students the opportunity for degree completion without the burden of relocation. Given the shortage of nurses at all educational levels, many institutions of higher learning have created online programs to meet the needs of both the student and the profession as a whole. Although convenient for the student and beneficial for the nursing profession, the online learning environment can present numerous challenges. Among these challenges are acts of student incivility-creating a difficult work environment for faculty and, at times, negatively affecting other students. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review problems associated with student incivility and share the experience in creating as well as implementing a professionalism policy that addresses student incivility. Recommendations for policy creation are summarized.

A comparison of professional value development among pre-licensure nursing students in associate degree, diploma, and bachelor of science in nursing programs.

AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the development of professionalism in pre-licensure nursing students in associate degree, diploma, and baccalaureate programs. BACKGROUND: Concerns have been raised about whether professional values to guide nursing practice are consistently instilled within nursing education programs. METHOD: Degrees of professionalism were operationally measured by the 26-item Nurses Professional Values Scale-Revised (NPVS-R) (Weis & Schank, 2009) in a convenience sample. RESULTS: ANOVA analysis (p = 0.0003) and then pairwise t-test analysis (p = 0.0004) revealed statistical significance when comparing NPVS-R scores and educational preparation. Differences between professional values scores and levels within each program revealed significance for the diploma students (p < 0.0001). Secondary subanalysis of the NPVS-R factors among levels and between educational preparation again revealed significance. CONCLUSION: Curricula revisions, faculty reflection and enrichment, as well as active student engagement are warranted to more vigilantly enhance the role formation process.