Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the values and influence structures of practicing professional nurses. The ECHO Multi-Response method guided this investigation. A random sample of medical-surgical, ANA certified registered nurses reported "good" and "bad" things that nurses do and that can happen to nurses. Content analysis of the responses generated 49 value categories. From these manifest categories six master value themes were created. The master categories were: caring, giving, receiving, safety, power, and professional health. Subjects also identified nine influence structures. They were in order of frequency: self, employers, clients, other nurses, God, outside regulators, other professionals, no one, and friends and family. ;Descriptive and Chi-square statistics were used to determine any relationships among the variables. A model of independence was suggested by the Chi-square testing between demographic variables and the value categories. Non-statistical comparisons were completed of the self-reported values and the values reflected in the ANA Code for Nurses . This informal comparison revealed a strong relationship between the value categories and the Code's values of respect for persons, autonomy, beneficence, fidelity, nonmaleficence, veracity, and justice. The findings of this study suggest that the value confidentiality may no longer guide nursing practice. Indeed, evidence is offered that implies the "need to know" may supersede this value. ;The findings of this study lend empirical support to nursing's theoretical contentions regarding the intrinsic connection between nursing and caring. Three care-recipient groups have been identified in addition to caring for patients. They were self, peers, and the profession. Recommendations are offered to continue research into the values of nurses so that a more complete picture of the nursing profession can be obtained as it evolves over time.