Between Ideal and Reality: A Cross‐Sectional Study of Nurses' Professional Values and Barriers to Professionalism in Türkiye

Evaluating nurses' professionalism and the obstacles they face is crucial for enhancing healthcare quality and professional satisfaction. The identified challenges still appear to be similar on a global scale. The present cross-sectional study investigated nurses' challenges in meeting professional standards in tertiary healthcare and explored the link between nurses' values and the underlying reasons for these challenges. Data were collected from 500 nurses at a state university hospital using three tools: "Nurse Introduction Form" for sociodemographic and work-related information, "Professionalism Form" to assess understanding of professionalism criteria and barriers, and "Nurses' Professional Values Scale." Results show a positive relationship between the attainability of professional standards and values. The most significant obstacle hindering the achievement of professional standards is systemic. Nurses lack awareness of professional values and are dissatisfied with their profession, especially due to negative working conditions and low income. Due to a lack of authorization, nurses are often unable to provide services fully in line with professional standards. Additionally, this lack of authorization can lead to deviations from their defined job responsibilities. Nurses have limited autonomy and decision-making power despite prioritizing values like human dignity. Meeting professional standards is linked to strongly holding professional values. The relationships between negative factors and NPVS scores show how these issues shape nurses' perception of professionalism.