Is there a set of common core values which appear across the entire profession of nursing? As differentiated practice becomes a reality for professional nursing, does each role category for nurses carry a unique set of values which are not present in the common core for all nurses? Answers to these questions surfaced in a study of nursing staff within a hospital which has based its care delivery system on differentiated roles for professional nurses. The results from this investigation indicate that there are universal core values found in all practicing nurses. Further, it identified values unique to the role of Associate, Baccalaureate, and Masters nurse. The study also recognized values inherent in the job requirements for each role and measured congruence between the role requirements and the values of nurses selecting the role. The results indicate that professional nurses bring a value system into their practice, and that the aspiration values which motivate them are the prime predictors of role selection. Strategies for value identification and development in the academic and corporate world are explored as a method of strengthening the roles and responsibilities within the professional discipline of nursing.