Values are best described as which of the following?

• A. Values
• B. Norms
• C. Ethical principles
• D. Morals

Answer: (A)

Values are beliefs about what is important and desirable, and they guide what a nurse chooses to prioritize in care. They shape decisions about how to respond to patients, what aspects of well-being to emphasize, and how to balance competing duties. Because values reflect what matters most to a person or a profession, they underlie behavior more fundamentally than other concepts.

Norms are about expected ways people should behave in a group, telling you what is considered acceptable in a given social context. Morals are beliefs about right and wrong—personal or societal judgments about conduct. Ethical principles are formal, widely accepted guidelines that inform professional conduct. While norms, morals, and principles interact with values, values themselves capture the deeper why behind actions and priorities.