Factors Associated With Professional Values in Nursing Students: A Narrative Review Article

As future nurses of society, nursing students will play a vital role in ethical decisions in the treatment process. The present study was conducted to review factors associated with professional values in nursing students.

In the current narrative review, by searching the databases of Science Direct, Magiran, SID, Iran Medex, Google Scholar, Web of Sciences, and PubMed, and using the keywords “professional values” and “nursing students” (and their Persian translated words to search articles in Persian) 208 articles were included in the study. The inclusion criteria included English and Persian papers from January 2010 to May 2022. By applying inclusion and exclusion criteria and removing duplicates, the researchers examined 25 articles.

The findings showed that the most crucial components from the student’s point of view were keeping the patient’s confidentiality (care dimension) and maintaining competence in the clinical environment (trust dimension), and the least crucial were the activism and professionalism dimensions. In addition, the personal and educational factors of students influence moral values. It should be noted that increasing professional experience decreases the significance of professional values. 

Although, according to the students’ views, professional values are highly valued, understanding the importance of all dimensions of professional values requires more support. Therefore, appropriate educational planning is suggested for empowerment in all dimensions of professional values.