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42 unit 1 | Professional Considerations CikguOnline
one begins to realize how others develop their death, good and evil, and health and illness. Usually
values. Raths, Harmin, and Simon (1979) suggest- these systems include an ethical code that specifies
ed using a three-step model of choosing, prizing, appropriate behavior. People may have a personal
and acting, with seven substeps, to identify one’s belief system, may participate in a religion that pro-
own values (Box 4-1). vides such a system, or both.
You may have used this method when making Members of primitive societies worshiped
the decision to go to nursing school. For some peo- events in nature. Unable to understand the science
ple, nursing is a first career; for others, it is a second of weather, for example, early civilizations believed
career. Using the model in Box 4-1, the valuing these events to be under the control of someone or
process is analyzed: something that needed to be appeased, and they
developed rituals and ceremonies to appease these
1. Choosing. After researching alternative career
unknown entities. They called these entities gods
options, you freely chose nursing school. This
and believed that certain behaviors either pleased
choice was most likely influenced by such fac-
or angered the gods. Because these societies associ-
tors as educational achievement and abilities,
ated certain behaviors with specific outcomes,
finances, support and encouragement from oth-
they created a belief system that enabled them to
ers, time, and feelings about people.
function as a group.
2. Prizing. Once the choice was made, you were
As higher civilizations evolved, belief systems
satisfied with it and told your friends about it.
became more complex. Archeology has provided
3. Acting. You have entered school and begun the
evidence of the religious practices of ancient civi-
journey to your new career. Later in your career,
lizations (Wack, 1992). The Aztec, Mayan, Incan,
you may decide to return to school for a bache-
and Polynesian cultures each had a religious belief
lor’s or master’s degree in nursing.
system comprised of many gods and goddesses for
As you progressed through school, you probably the same functions. The Greek, Roman, Egyptian,
started to develop a new set of values—your profes- and Scandinavian societies believed in a hierarchy
sional values.Professional values are those established of gods and goddesses. Although given different
as being important in your practice. These values names by different cultures, it is very interesting
include caring, quality of care, and ethical behaviors. that most of the deities had similar purposes. For
example, Zeus was the Greek king of the gods, and
Belief Systems Thor was the Norse god of thunder. Both used a
thunderbolt as their symbol. Sociologists believe
Belief systems are an organized way of thinking that these religions developed to explain what was
about why people exist in the universe.The purpose then unexplainable. Human beings have a deep
of belief systems is to explain such issues as life and need to create order from chaos and to have logical
explanations for events. Religion explains theolog-
ically what objective science cannot.
box 4-1 Along with the creation of rites and rituals, reli-
Values Clarification gions also developed codes of behaviors, or ethical
codes. These codes contribute to the social order.
Choosing There are rules regarding how to treat family mem-
1. Choosing freely
2. Choosing from alternatives bers, neighbors, the young, and the old. Many
3. Deciding after giving consideration to the consequences religions also developed rules regarding marriage,
of each alternative sexual practices,business practices,property owner-
Prizing ship, and inheritance.
4. Being satisfied about the choice The advancement of science certainly has not
5. Being willing to declare the choice to others
made belief systems any less important. In fact, the
Acting technology explosion has created an even greater
6. Making the choice a part of one’s worldview and need for these systems. Technological advances
incorporating it into behavior
7. Repeating the choice often place people in situations that justify religious
convictions rather than oppose them. Many reli-
Adapted from Raths, L.E., Harmon, M., & Simmons, S.B. (1979). Values and
Teaching. New York: Charles E. Merrill. gions, particularly Christianity, focus on the will of