Italian Nursing Students Prioritize Caring Values Most Highly

Undergraduate nursing students in Italy place the highest value on the domain of Caring, which encompasses dignity, respect, and patient-centered care, a recent study has revealed. The research, conducted between March and July 2024, engaged 463 nursing students from four Italian universities, with 358 participants completing surveys (77% response rate). The students, predominantly female (77%) and with a mean age of 23 years, demonstrated a strong emphasis on professional values, with high average scores overall (mean 4.5, SD 0.74).

Key Takeaways:

• Italian nursing students prioritize Caring values most highly, with a mean score of 4.67 (SD 0.55) across the 3-domain I-NPVS-3 scale.
• The most valued item was "Respecting the inherent dignity, values, and human rights of all individuals," with 82% rating it as extremely important.
• Female students scored higher across all domains compared to males, with younger students emphasizing Caring more, and older students showing greater interest in Activism and Professionalism.
• The research recommends curriculum enhancements to strengthen the Activism and Professionalism domains, particularly research engagement and policy involvement.
• Authors note that the findings suggest that strengthening these domains will better prepare future nurses for evolving healthcare challenges.
• The study highlights the importance of understanding and prioritizing professional values in nursing education and practice.
• Researchers engaged students from 4 Italian universities, with a mean age of 23 years and 77% female participants.

Statistics:

• Mean age of participants: 23 years
• Female participants: 77%
• Number of participants: 463 (358 completed surveys, 77% response rate)
• Mean score for professional values: 4.5 (SD 0.74)
• Mean score for Caring domain: 4.67 (SD 0.55)
• Number of items rated "extremely important" for Caring domain: 82%

Sources:

• NewsRx. Researchers at IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital Target Nursing Ethics (Professional Values of Undergraduate Nursing Students: a Cross-sectional Study). Health & Medicine Week. October 17, 2025; p 6006.
• IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital. (2025). Professional Values of Undergraduate Nursing Students: a Cross-sectional Study. Nursing Ethics, 2025.
• Sage Publications Ltd. (Publisher of Nursing Ethics). Address: 1 Olivers Yard, 55 City Road, London EC1Y 1SP, England.
• Diego Lopane, Simone Cosmai, Davide Allevi, Cristina Chiari, Alberto Gibellato, Beatrice Mazzoleni, Simone Nicoli, Jasmen Ali, and Michela Piredda. (Authors of the study). IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital.