3 Understanding your own values and values in nursing
Understanding the connection between beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviours is key to understanding where your thoughts, attitudes and behaviours come from both in your personal life and in your life as a nurse. Figure 1 shows the connections between your beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviours.
In Figure 1, the four sections overlap each other to suggest that each section has an impact on the other. Our beliefs shape our values, our values shape our attitudes and in turn these all shape our behaviours.
Activity 3 What are my beliefs and values?
In Table 1 below write your responses to the questions, what matters to me? And what is most important to me?
| In the world | In my work (paid, unpaid or voluntary) | In my relationships | In myself | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What matters to me? | ||||
| What is most important to me? |
Do the things that matter to you cross over between each category? Often if a value, such as honesty, is important to you in work, it is also important in your relationships. Have a look at the overlaps and what is most important to you. As you work through the next sections, you will see how your beliefs and values impact on nursing practice.