Values based teaching. Supporting [com]passion in nursing. Reminding students of why they chose a journey to nursing.

This paper is essentially a statement of intention; to further pursue and investigate an interest on ‘values based’ teaching and learning methods. In a context where values based exercises are now being used for employment selection, I believe we have a responsibility to generate educational opportunities to support students staying in touch with the key beliefs and values that originally brought them into health care practice. Recent innovations in my teaching practise have revealed that ‘visual – emotive’ rather than text based learning triggers can be highly effective in stimulating shared and (often critical) evaluation of the challenges learners experience holding fast to their professional ideals.