Personal Values                        Organizational Values
(These Matter Most to Me)                (These Matter Most to My Organization)
1.___Honesty_______                1.__________Profit____________
2._____Accountability___________                2.____Economic Security__________
3.______Responsibility___________                3._____Customer Focus______________
4.____Timeliness___________                4._____Quality______________
5.______Trust__________                5.___________Long Term__________
6._______Quality___________                6.______Achievement______________
7.____Achievement___________                7.______Efficiency_____________
8.___________Love______________                8.________Status____________
9.___________Economic Security_____________                9.________Structure______________
10._____Long Term_______                10.______Effectiveness____________

a.     Are your top ten personal values and your top ten organizational values the same? If not, what are the major differences? What problems, if any, do these differences create for you as a leader?

Although I am proud to work for my manager, overall, I am not very proud to work for my organization. My facility switched to "for profit" a couple years back and since this transition priorities and focus have shifted. While it is important for an organization to be customer focused and goal oriented, the organization must also consider employee satisfaction and safety. While 8 patients to 1 nurse ratios may help a facility economically, it is not safe or geared towards quality care - despite if you claim this is your goal. As a individual these differences are hard to accept sometimes; however, patients need quality and compassionate care and that along with my manager's positive example to handle change with dignity , have encouraged me to maintain my values and to lead by example within my organization.




b.    Are there some values on your personal values list that conflict with each other? For example, are there conflicts because you value economic security and freedom? Loyalty and truth? How can you address and resolve these value conflicts?


No, all of my values compliment one another. I would like to point out that working in an environment where accountability, honesty, hard work ethic , loyalty and trust are present is far more important than making a few extra dollars. My current position is underpaid per hour by about $2-3 compared to surrounding hospitals, however, I have an incredible manager and amazing team of co-workers who are driven and focused. We are more like a family than co-workers and that in and of itself is hard to come by.

c.     Are there some values on your organization values list that conflict with each other? For example, are there conflicts because the organization tries to focus on quality and quantity? On the short term and the long term? How can you address and resolve these value conflicts?

Yes, I feel that many of my organization's priorities conflict themselves. As mentioned before, nurse to patient ratios are being stretched thinner and thinner. My organization is very focused on high HCAHP scores and patient satisfaction but is also very focused on profit and instead of the higher ups taking personal budget cuts, they choose to work with higher patient to nurse ratios. Unfortunately this is a conflict of interest as a nurse can only be at one place at one time. By allowing these working conditions they are showing that their priorities are truly monetary focused and not patient or employee focused. In order to address this issue it is important for nurses to advocate for safe nurse to patient ratios that consider acuity and patient's needs. My motto is nursing should be patient centered not paycheck centered.




d.     Are there some values very important to you that you are not “living” in your day-to-day life? If so, what might you do to bring your life into concert with your most deeply held values?

I feel that my values run very deep and that I am very true to them. There have been times in my life where I have had to adjust to accomplish my values. For example, I am a people pleaser to a certain extent and do not like to say "no." With school, full time work, and social commitments my "me" time is often neglected. Last year one of my resolutions was to not "over-commit," which ultimately meant I had to prioritize my free time and learn to say no graciously. By monitoring my time I can make commitments with quality in mind and don't have to worry about canceling, thus respecting my feelings toward accountability.