Importance of professional nursing values: a national study of baccalaureate programs.

Research about professional nursing values is scarce. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were different perceptions about professional nursing values between senior baccalaureate nursing students and their faculty. The Professional Nursing Behavior Instrument (PNB) used in this research was based on the nursing role behaviors identified in the AACN's (1986) Essentials Report as exemplars of seven essential values. A national sample of 10 public and 16 private baccalaureate programs resulted in a return of 656 students (57%) and 350 faculty (70%). Faculty values were significantly higher than students' (p < .045) with faculty valuing equality, human dignity, and freedom more highly. Enrollment or employment in a public or private institution or studying ethics, theology, and philosophy did not significantly affect values. Faculty with more teaching experience had higher value scores (p < .004).