title: Altruism.
abstract: The concept of altruism has been viewed or defined as a professional value of the nursing discipline. The author in this column begins a discussion of its philosophical origins as a normative bioethical concept with implications for the term's current usage in practice and teaching-learning contexts. Alternative views, potential definitions, and meanings from a nursing theoretical perspective are explored.
authors: Department of Nursing, The Master's College, Santa Clarita, CA 91321, USA. constancemilton@yahoo.com
authors: Constance L
authors: CL
authors: Milton
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D001675:Bioethics; D006801:Humans; D009729:Nursing