In the caring professions it is important to be able to assess not only knowledge and competencies but also the behavior of future professionals in the different sectors of health care. The aim of this work is to define and describe the core values of the health professions and shed light on the essential values which act as the basis for future behavior. Many international documents (League of Nursing, American Board of International Medicine), define the Core Values of specific professions as the bases on which teaching and training curricula are founded. The authors intend to find out whether it is possible to improve behavioral learning of professional values. For example, in the USA the Medical Association has proposed a model for this purpose. Before receiving professional abilitation, suitable professional behavior should be practically tested.
Materials and methods: A questionnaire was issued to University course Coordinators in Nursing and Obstetrics in Italy, asking them to express their opinion on an existing model of "Core Values" and the need for their assessment.
Results: It was generally agreed that behavior should be assessed in the light of the essential values of the profession. The description of "Core Values" thus becomes a tool for identifying which behavior should be assessed. Coordinators did not express a precise opinion regarding the assessment tool proposed.
Discussion and conclusions: There was a general consensus regarding the need to assess the values at the basis of behavior in health care students, as well as the "Core Value" proposed. Doubt remained regarding the assessment modalities owing to the fact that the practical test actually used does not always focus on behavioral values.