Exploring Professional Values of Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

AIM: This study aimed to assess undergraduate nursing students’ perspectives on professional values and identify associated factors.

METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 530 undergraduate nursing students enrolled at a medical university in Central Vietnam. Participants were recruited using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected between December 2024 and January 2025 through a selfadministered questionnaire, including demographic and academic characteristics, along with the 28-item Nurses Professional Values Scale-3, which assesses three domains: caring, activism, and professionalism.

RESULTS: The overall professional values of nursing students showed a moderate level, with a mean score of 97.2 . 13.8 out of 140. Among the three domains, caring rated the highest mean score at 35.9 . 5.5, followed by activism at 34.8 . 5.5 and professionalism at 26.6 . 3.7. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that total professional values were independently associated with living area, nursing major satisfaction, and clinical experience.

CONCLUSION: Professional values among undergraduate nursing students are influenced by a complex interaction of educational, contextual, and experiential factors. While caring was strongly endorsed, lower levels of activism and professionalism indicate areas requiring greater emphasis in undergraduate nursing education. Intentional, value-based educational strategies that strengthen professional socialization and advocacy, while enhancing the quality of clinical learning experiences and students’ satisfaction with the nursing major, may support more comprehensive professional value development.

Cite this article as: Tran, T. N., Nguyen, T. N., Nguyen, T. M. D., Ton, D. N. M., & Tran, T. H. (2026). Exploring professional values of undergraduate nursing students: A crosssectional study. Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing, 34, 0476, doi: 10.5152/FNJN.2026.25476.