The relationship between professional values and self-concept among neonatal intensive care unit nurses in Palestine: a cross-sectional study

Background: While professional values are central to nursing, their relationship with psychological well-being such as self-esteem is not understood, especially in resource-constrained environments amidst systemic challenges. Aim: The present study investigated the relationship between professional values of caring, activism, and professionalism with self-esteem among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses in the West Bank, Palestine. Furthermore to establish whether professionalism predicts self-esteem under systemic constraint. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted (January–March 2024) in three tertiary hospitals. A stratified random sample of 188 full-time NICU nurses completed the Nurses Professional Values Scale-3 and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Ethical approval was obtained, and the participants provided informed consent. Results: High professional values were exhibited by the participants (mean = 94.1 ± 14.8), with professionalism scoring the highest (26.7 ± 4.6). Self-esteem was moderate (15.3 ± 1.5). Professional values and self-esteem were positively correlated ( r = 0.157, p = 0.032). Professionalism was the most powerful predictor of self-esteem (β = 0.207, p = 0.002) in a regression model that also included education level (β = 0.156, p = 0.037), and together these predictors explained 28.3% of variance in self-esteem ( R 2 = 0.283). Conclusion: Professionalism is a primary ethical and psychological resource of NICU nurses working in extremely challenging environments. Well-being interventions must combine ethics-focused training with organisational support to overcome political and resource constraints.