Vol. 4 No. 2 (2025): post-ICU pathways
Articles

The Professional Values of Nursing Students: a Systematic Review

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  • Simone Cosmai,
  • Michela Piredda,
  • Diego Lopane,
  • Stefano Mancin,
  • Alberto Gibellato,
  • Cristina Chiari,
  • Alesandra Valsecchi,
  • Giacomo Bergamelli,
  • Davide Allevi,
  • Jasmen Ali,
  • Beatrice Mazzoleni
Simone Cosmai
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy; Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Torvergata University of Rome, Italy
Michela Piredda
Research Unit of Nursing Science, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
Diego Lopane
IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
Stefano Mancin
IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
Alberto Gibellato
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
Cristina Chiari
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
Alesandra Valsecchi
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
Giacomo Bergamelli
Humanitas Gavazzeni SPA, Bergamo, Italy
Davide Allevi
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, Pieve Emanuele, 20072 Milan, Italy
Jasmen Ali
Sub-Acute Care Unit, Fondazione Residenza Sanitario - Assistenziale di Soncino Onlus, Soncino, Italy
Beatrice Mazzoleni
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/if-3539

Published 2025-06-30 — Updated on 2025-07-02

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Keywords

  • Nursing Student,
  • Professional Values,
  • Education,
  • Systematic Review,
  • Professional Identity

Copyright (c) 2025 Simone Cosmai, Jasmen Ali, Davide Allevi, Giacomo Bergamelli, Alesandra Valsecchi, Cristina Chiari, Alberto Gibellato, Stefano Mancin, Diego Lopane, Michela Piredda, Beatrice Mazzoleni

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Introduction. Professional values play a crucial role in nursing practice, as they influence nurese’ care quality and ethical decisions. In an evolving educational and healthcare context, it is essential for students to develop and integrate the professional values necessary to effectively address future challenges. This systematic review aims to identify the professional values declared by nursing students during their academic journey.

Methods. A comprehensive literature search was carried out for primay quantitative studies published until december 2024 in the databases PubMed/Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and yielded 21,071 records. After screening, 29 relevant studies were included in this review. The process of screening, selection and inclusion of articles was reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A systematic review was conducted following the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. Methodological quality assessment and methodological quality of the included articles were evaluated.

Results. The 29 included studies, comprising 3 cohort studies and 26 cross-sectional studies, reported a low methodological quality assessment, ensuring high reliability of the results. The most frequently cited value was Caring, while Activism and Altruism were also important values for students. Additionally, specific studies highlighted values such as the Principle of Work, respect for Human Dignity, Ethical and Moral aspects, as well as Nursing Professionalism.

Discussion. The review provided insight into the fundamental values that define nursing students. Furthermore, it enabled an understanding of the multiple variables that shape professional values, highlighting key factors such as academic education and cultural context. These findings offer a foundation for further exploration of the elements that directly influence the development of professional values.

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