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The socialization process in nursing education involves the modification of personal values and internalization of nursing values. The purpose of the study was to examine the professional values in senior nursing students. This study utilized a convenience sample of 1450 senior nursing students from 39 nursing programs in the state of Texas. Data were collected using the Nurses Professional Value Scale (NPVS), a 44 item norm-referenced instrument based on the American Nurses' Association Code for Nurses developed by Weis and Schank. The total scores were high, at a mean of 181, which is similar to the mean scores of practicing registered nurses and higher than the mean scores of entry level nursing students. Findings related to demographic variables included that males generally scored lower than females. Ethnicity was also a factor that influenced the relative priority of values, although it did not significantly impact the total score. In addition, marital status influenced relative priority, but age did not. Results indicated that students graduate from nursing programs with high professional values, possibly indicating an idealistic view of nursing, often held by new graduates. Understanding factors that influence the development of nursing values, including the affect of formal nursing education, are essential for the successful launching of novice practitioners.