The NHS Values are a set of guiding principles that underpin everything the National Health Service does. They are enshrined in the NHS Constitution and apply to all staff, patients, and the public. Understanding and demonstrating these values is essential for anyone seeking to work in the NHS, particularly international nurses who must align their professional practice with UK healthcare standards.
For international nurses, NHS Values are not just interview preparation material. They represent a cultural framework that shapes how healthcare is delivered in the UK. The NHS prides itself on being a values-driven organisation, and recruitment processes are designed to assess whether candidates embody these values.
Every NHS job application and interview will assess your alignment with these values. Being able to articulate them clearly and provide concrete examples from your own practice is essential for securing a nursing position in the UK.
Why NHS Values Matter for International Nurses
- Interview panels will ask values-based questions
- NHS Trusts use values to shortlist candidates
- They shape UK healthcare culture and expectations
- Values-based recruitment is mandatory across the NHS
- Understanding values helps you adapt to UK practice
The NHS Constitution
The NHS Constitution for England brings together in one place what patients, staff, and the public can expect from the NHS. It sets out the rights and responsibilities of patients and staff, and the values and principles that guide the NHS.
First published in 2009 and updated regularly, the Constitution is a legal requirement for NHS organisations. All staff are required to uphold its values and principles. International nurses should familiarise themselves with the Constitution as part of their preparation for working in the NHS.
Key Principles of the NHS Constitution:
- The NHS provides a comprehensive service, available to all
- Access to NHS services is based on clinical need, not ability to pay
- The NHS aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism
- NHS services must reflect the needs and preferences of patients
- The NHS works across organisational boundaries
- The NHS is committed to providing best value for taxpayers' money
- The NHS is accountable to the public, communities, and patients
All 6 NHS Values Defined
The NHS has six core values. Each one is explored in detail in the sections that follow:
1. Working Together for Patients
Patients come first in everything we do. We work across boundaries to deliver coordinated, patient-centred care.
2. Respect and Dignity
We value every person as an individual. We respect their autonomy, privacy, and right to be involved in decisions.
3. Commitment to Quality of Care
We continually strive to improve services and outcomes. We aim for excellence in everything we do.
4. Compassion
We ensure that compassion is central to the care we provide. We respond with humanity and kindness.
5. Improving Lives
We aim to improve health and wellbeing for individuals and communities. We innovate and drive progress.
6. Everyone Counts
We maximise our resources for the benefit of the whole community. We value diversity and ensure equality.
Working Together for Patients
This value emphasises that patient care is a team effort. It means collaborating effectively with colleagues from all disciplines, sharing information appropriately, and putting the patient's needs above professional rivalries or organisational boundaries.
What It Means in Practice
Effective handover: Sharing comprehensive, accurate information during shift changes so that care continues seamlessly.
Multidisciplinary working: Participating actively in MDT meetings, respecting the expertise of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, doctors, and social workers.
No blame culture: When things go wrong, the focus is on learning and fixing the problem, not assigning blame to individuals.
Interview Example
"In my previous role, I was caring for a patient with complex needs who required input from multiple teams. I noticed that the physiotherapy and occupational therapy teams were working independently and giving the patient conflicting advice about mobilisation. I arranged a joint meeting where we agreed a coordinated plan. This prevented confusion for the patient and accelerated their recovery by two weeks."
Respect and Dignity
This value means treating every person as an individual, respecting their autonomy, and protecting their privacy and dignity. It encompasses cultural sensitivity, respect for diverse backgrounds, and a commitment to equality and human rights.
What It Means in Practice
Cultural sensitivity: Asking about religious or cultural needs and accommodating them (dietary requirements, prayer times, modesty preferences).
Privacy and dignity: Closing curtains before examinations, covering patients appropriately, addressing them by their preferred name.
Autonomy: Respecting a patient's right to refuse treatment, even when you disagree with their decision, provided they have capacity.
Interview Example
"I was caring for a patient from a minority ethnic background who spoke limited English. Rather than using her son as an interpreter (which can compromise confidentiality and accuracy), I insisted on booking a professional interpreter for all significant conversations. This ensured that she fully understood her diagnosis and could make genuinely informed decisions about her care."
Commitment to Quality of Care
This value is about the relentless pursuit of excellence. It means continuously looking for ways to improve care, keeping up to date with evidence-based practice, and taking pride in delivering the highest possible standards.
What It Means in Practice
Quality improvement: Participating in audits, identifying problems, and implementing solutions to improve patient care.
Lifelong learning: Keeping knowledge current through training, journals, and reflective practice.
Incident reporting: Honestly reporting near-misses and incidents so that systems can be improved to prevent recurrence.
Interview Example
"I noticed that our ward had a higher-than-average rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections. I reviewed the evidence and discovered that our catheter care protocol was out of date. I presented the evidence to the ward manager, developed an updated training package, and delivered it to all staff. Within three months, our CAUTI rate had reduced by 60%."
Compassion
Compassion is at the heart of the NHS Values. It means responding to patients with humanity and kindness, understanding their emotions, and providing comfort and support during difficult times.
What It Means in Practice
Being present: Taking time to simply sit with a patient who is distressed, rather than rushing to the next task.
Emotional support: Acknowledging and validating feelings: "I can see this is really hard for you."
Holistic care: Caring for the whole person, not just their medical condition. Asking about family, worries, and hopes.
Interview Example
"I was caring for a young woman who had suffered a miscarriage. Rather than simply completing the clinical tasks, I sat with her, listened to her story, acknowledged her grief, and created memory keepsakes. I also ensured she had information about support services and followed up with her the next day to check how she was coping."
Improving Lives
This value is about the NHS's broader purpose: to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities, and populations. It encompasses prevention, public health, research, and innovation.
What It Means in Practice
Health promotion: Taking every opportunity to educate patients about healthy lifestyles, smoking cessation, and disease prevention.
Research participation: Encouraging eligible patients to participate in clinical trials and research studies.
Community focus: Recognising that health is affected by social determinants and connecting patients with community resources.
Interview Example
"I identified that many of our diabetic patients were being readmitted with complications related to poor self-management. I developed a structured education programme covering blood glucose monitoring, foot care, and dietary management. Over six months, readmissions for our diabetic patients reduced by 35%, and patients reported feeling more confident in managing their condition."
Everyone Counts
This value emphasises that the NHS belongs to everyone and exists to serve the whole community. It means ensuring equality of access, valuing diversity, and making the best use of resources for the greatest benefit.
What It Means in Practice
Equality and diversity: Treating all patients equally regardless of background, and challenging discrimination.
Efficient resource use: Using NHS resources wisely - reducing waste, preventing unnecessary procedures, promoting self-care where appropriate.
Inclusive care: Making reasonable adjustments for patients with disabilities, learning difficulties, or additional needs.
Interview Example
"I noticed that our patient information leaflets were only available in English, which disadvantaged our non-English speaking population. I worked with the trust's equality team to have our most important leaflets translated into the five most common languages in our community. We also arranged for interpreter services to be more readily available. This improved patient understanding and reduced missed appointments by 20%."
NHS Values vs 6 C's of Nursing
International nurses often confuse NHS Values with the 6 C's. While related, they are distinct frameworks used for different purposes:
Aspect
NHS Values
6 C's of Nursing
Scope
Apply to ALL NHS staff and organisations
Specific to nursing
Origin
NHS Constitution (2009)
Compassion in Practice (2012)
Focus
Organisational culture and public service
Individual nursing practice
Number
6 values
6 values
Overlap
Both include compassion, commitment/quality, and respect/dignity
For NHS interviews, you should be prepared to discuss BOTH frameworks. NHS Values questions are broader and organisational; 6 C's questions are more specific to nursing practice.
Interview Questions & Model Answers
Below are common NHS Values interview questions with model answers tailored for international nurses:
Q: "Why do you want to work for the NHS?"
"I am deeply attracted to the NHS's core principle that healthcare is provided based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Having worked in healthcare systems where access depends on financial resources, I profoundly respect the NHS's commitment to equity and universal care. I am particularly drawn to the NHS's emphasis on values-driven care, professional development, and evidence-based practice. I believe my [X years] of nursing experience in [specialty], combined with my commitment to compassionate, patient-centred care, would allow me to make a meaningful contribution to an organisation that truly puts patients first."
Q: "Describe a time you had to adapt your communication style to meet a patient's needs."
"I was caring for a patient with learning disabilities who was extremely anxious about a blood test. Standard explanations weren't working. I adapted my approach by using a picture board to show what would happen, demonstrating the procedure on a teddy bear first, and breaking the explanation into very small steps. I also involved their support worker who knew their preferred communication methods. The patient was able to have the blood test with minimal distress. This experience reinforced my belief that communication must be adapted to each individual's needs, which aligns with the NHS value of Respect and Dignity."
Q: "Tell us about a time you identified a way to improve the quality of care."
"In my previous unit, I noticed that patients' families were often anxious and felt excluded from care decisions because they couldn't visit during ward rounds. I proposed a 'family liaison' initiative where a designated nurse would contact families daily with updates and invite them to participate in care planning meetings via phone or video call. I presented the idea to management, developed a simple protocol, and trialled it over three months. Family satisfaction scores improved by 25%, and we saw better patient outcomes as families were more engaged in post-discharge care. This reflects my commitment to the NHS value of Commitment to Quality of Care."
Q: "How would you handle a situation where a colleague was not treating a patient with dignity?"
"If I witnessed a colleague not treating a patient with dignity, my first priority would be the patient's welfare. I would immediately ensure the patient is safe and supported. Then, depending on the severity, I would either speak to the colleague privately in the moment - for example, saying 'Let's make sure we close the curtain for privacy' - or, if more serious, report it to my line manager following the trust's raising concerns policy. I would document what I observed factually. I believe in addressing issues directly when possible, but patient safety and dignity are non-negotiable, which aligns with both NHS Values and my professional duty under the NMC Code."
Q: "How will you contribute to the NHS value of 'Everyone Counts'?"
"As an international nurse, I bring a unique perspective on cultural diversity that can enhance team understanding. I will treat every patient as an individual, making reasonable adjustments for those with additional needs. I will challenge discrimination if I encounter it and ensure that my practice is culturally sensitive. I also commit to using NHS resources responsibly - preventing waste, reducing infection risks, and promoting self-management where appropriate. I believe that everyone, regardless of background, deserves equal access to high-quality care, and I will work every day to make that a reality for my patients."
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all NHS Trusts use the same values?
All NHS organisations must uphold the NHS Constitution values. However, individual Trusts may have additional local values. Always check the specific Trust's website before your interview.
What's the difference between NHS Values and NMC Code?
NHS Values are organisational values that guide how the NHS operates. The NMC Code is a regulatory framework that sets standards of practice and behaviour for all registered nurses. Both are important and overlap significantly.
How do I demonstrate NHS Values as an international applicant?
Use examples from your nursing experience in your home country. Values like compassion, respect, and commitment are universal. Frame your examples to show how they align with NHS expectations.
What is values-based recruitment?
Values-based recruitment (VBR) is an NHS requirement where selection processes actively assess whether candidates' values align with NHS Values. This includes values-based questions in interviews and situational judgement tests.
Can I use the same example for multiple values?
Yes, a single scenario can demonstrate multiple values. However, in interviews, try to use diverse examples to show breadth of experience.
Where can I learn more about NHS Values?
The NHS Constitution is available on the NHS England website. Individual NHS Trust websites also have values information. The NMC Code is available at nmc.org.uk.
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