Reclaiming Your Core Values: A Nurse Leader’s Guide to Purposeful Transformation
As spring begins to stir in March 2025, we find ourselves at a time of year steeped in reflection, sacrifice, and transformation for many of the world’s religions. This season invites us to pause, look inward, and realign with what matters most. For Nurse Leaders, this is a powerful moment to do the same—to reflect deeply, reclaim and clarify our core values, and find our voice amid the disruption, innovation, and transformation sweeping through nursing and healthcare.
In today’s complex healthcare landscape, where workforce shortages, technological advancements, and evolving care models dominate our days, it’s easy to lose sight of the “why” behind our leadership. Yet, research consistently shows that a leader’s clarity of values is the bedrock of a thriving team culture. A 2023 Gallup study found that organizations with highly engaged leaders—those who connect their personal values to their work—see 21% higher employee engagement and 9% better retention rates For Nurse Leaders, this translates directly to a stronger culture of safety, improved patient outcomes, and a more resilient workforce. Your values aren’t just a personal compass—they’re the heartbeat of your department’s culture.
The Power of Clarity: Defining Your Core Values
At Inspire Nurse Leaders®, we believe that effective leadership starts with clarity—specifically, identifying no more than five core values that define who you are and how you lead. Why five? Because too many values dilute focus, while a concise set keeps you grounded and actionable. These might include integrity, compassion, courage, collaboration, or excellence—whatever values resonate most with you. The key is to ensure they align with your organization’s mission and vision, creating “congruence” between your personal purpose and your professional impact.
Take a moment to ask yourself:
For example, if advocacy is a core value, it might connect to your organization’s commitment to patient and family centered care model where patients and their family’s voice’s and feedback are encouraged and welcomed. If courage is on your list, it could reflect a mission to innovate and advocate for change. This alignment isn’t just theoretical — it’s the foundation for living your values every day.
Living Your Values with Conviction
Clarifying your values is only the beginning; the real impact comes from embodying them through specific leadership behaviors. A leader who values integrity doesn’t just talk about honesty—they model it by owning mistakes and communicating transparently, even when it’s hard. A leader rooted in collaboration doesn’t just delegate—they actively seek input from frontline staff and celebrate shared successes.
There are decades of research demonstrating the profound impact of transformational and purpose-driven leadership in healthcare and other industries. From increased retention and improved safety outcomes to higher patient satisfaction, values-driven leadership makes a measurable difference. In the 7th edition of The Leadership Challenge (2023), Dr. Barry Posner and Jim Kouzes emphasize this point, stating: “Exemplary leadership comes from the inside out.” When you have clarified your values, you will find the inner confidence it takes to lead.
“Why? Because when leaders consistently live their values—standing up for what’s right for their team, patients, and community—they create a culture of trust and purpose. In the spirit of patient safety this might mean advocating for additional resources, even when budgets are tight. It’s not always easy, but it’s where conviction turns values into action.”
A Seasonal Call to Action
This season offers Nurse Leaders a unique opportunity to harness the spirit of reflection and transformation. As a time for growth and renewal, it’s a chance to shed old habits and renew their commitments, we can reclaim our values to lead with renewed purpose. Here’s how to start:
1. Reflect Deeply
Set aside 15-30 minutes this week to journal about your core values. What are your top five? Why do they matter to you? How do they connect to your organization’s goals?
2. Assess Alignment
Look at your daily actions—do they reflect your values? Where are you living them fully, and where might you need to step up?
3. Engage Your Team
Share one of your values with your team and ask for their input. How do they see it in action? What do they value? This builds connection and reinforces culture.
4. Stand Up
Identify one challenge—whether it’s a resource gap, a safety concern, or a team morale issue—and take a bold, value-driven step to address it this month.
Please fill out the form below to download "Leader Values Clarification Self-Paced Activity" Tip Sheet:
The Ripple Effect
Closing Thoughts
Lori Armstrong DNP, RN NEA-BC
CEO & Chief Clinical Officer
Inspire Nurse Leaders