Final answer:
Nursing students adopt professional nursing values through socialization within their nursing programs, which includes learning ethics, adjusting to the healthcare culture, and engaging in introspection and self-awareness to align their personal and professional values.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process nursing students adopt professional nursing values is one that involves extensive socialization within the educational and practical experiences of their nursing program. This process includes learning and internalizing the ethics and behaviors expected of the profession through coursework, observations, and clinical practice experiences. Nursing students must adjust to new cultural behaviors and norms in the healthcare setting, just as a student adapts when they join a new social group like a sorority, fraternity, or boarding school.
As students navigate their rigorous educational path, they must become familiar with the professional values that guide nursing practice. These include patient advocacy, confidentiality, compassion, and continuing education, often outlined in professional codes of ethics. For instance, understanding these values and applying them during clinical practicums is critical for success and aligns with the overall educational goals. Over time, observing the conduct of experienced nurses and healthcare professionals will help these students integrate their formal learning with the unwritten cultural expectations of their profession.
Engaging in introspection and self-awareness is essential for working across groups with different customs and beliefs. Therefore, nursing students should continually reflect on their personal values, ensure they align with the professional values of nursing, and adjust their behaviors and decision-making processes accordingly. Additionally, maintaining academic integrity is foundational to their educational experience, laying the groundwork for the ethical practice of nursing they will carry into their future careers.