Värdefulla värdegrunder? - en studie om värdegrundens betydelse för undersköterskor vid äldreboenden i Lunds Kommun

Sammanfattning: Through media reports we became aware that several municipalities and organizations used the concept of fundamental values to show the approach to governing. Also through media, we became aware of a report which proposed a statutory national fundamental value for the elderly. We were curious about what was actually meant by the term fundamental values, and the effect it has, and the purpose of the study became to examine the importance of fundamental values in Lunds Kommuns eldercare. To achieve our purpose we interviewed eight auxiliary nurses in various homes for the elderly in Lunds Kommun. We then analysed their responses in relation to previous research and our two selected socio-critical theories. The results of the study showed that the fundamental values were prepared by the management without the auxiliary nurses' involvement. It also showed that the nurses felt that the fundamental values were important and that they claimed they worked in accordance to the fundamental values approach, even if they did not say that they used the concept as a guiding principle in their daily work. We also found that a statutory national fundamental value principle is believed to constitute a guarantee for the elders' welfare. However, we are critical of the latter as there already exists several laws that should be able to guarantee this. Because of the fundamental values diffuse content and poor anchorage; we believe that it exists only as a document without any actual impact of our respective respondent’s practical work.