The values profile of nursing undergraduate students: implications for education and professional development.

This study examined the values profile of 152 nursing undergraduate students, as measured by the 20 life and work values from the Values Scale, and compared their profiles to those from a comparable sample of 111 management undergraduate students. Results showed that Personal Development and Altruism are the most important values for this sample of nursing students. There also were several significant age effects related to six of the values. The results of the t tests showed that the nursing sample had a significantly higher mean on the Altruism value and lower means on the Life Style, Advancement, Autonomy, Authority, Creativity, Economic, and Risk values, compared to the management sample. Recommendations are offered for nurse educators and managers. Inevitably, values compel individuals to be and to act, both personally and professionally.