Professional values: key to professional development.

Humanistic nursing care requires application of not only cognitive and psychomotor learning, but also affective skill development. The nursing profession has focused on cognitive and psychomotor domain learning. However, knowledge in all three domains is essential for full professional development and, thus, socialization into the profession. This article discusses affective domain learning, specifically, value formation and the contribution of education, service, and the profession to full embodiment of professional values. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.