Nurses are regarded by most everyone as caring, compassionate professionals who are dedicated to delivering the highest quality medical care … day-in, and day-out. Great reasons why the profession is seen as one of the best in the country.
However, there are additional traits that must be added to the description – “honest and ethical.”
For the 16th straight year, Americans have ranked nurses as the most honest and ethical of the 22 occupations surveyed in a recent Gallup Poll published on Dec. 26. In the poll, 82% of respondents rated nurses’ ethics as “very high” or “high.” Contrast that with the “low” to “very low” honesty and ethical ratings given to Congressional members (60%), lobbyists (58%) and car salespeople (39%).
Nurses’ 82% “very high/high” ranking was 11-points higher than that of military officers (71%), with such “trusted” professions as grade school teachers, doctors, police officers, judges and clergy falling even further behind. According to Gallup, nurses have topped the ranking every year but one since the first survey in 1999 – and that was in 2001, after the 9/11 terrorist attack, when firefighters were added to the list. Not surprisingly, 90% of American’s rated their standards of honesty and ethical behavior as “very high/high,” pushing nurses out of the top spot.
Interestingly, three of the professions rated highest for honesty and ethical practices are in healthcare. In addition to nurses, doctors and pharmacists again made the list – a trend that has been the case in recent years.
While nurses’ 82% “very high/high” ranking eclipsed all other occupations surveyed, the profession’s “average” (16%) and “low/very low” (2%) rankings were the lowest of all surveyed, suggesting Americans’ trust of nurses is all-encompassing.
Results of the poll were based on telephone interviews of 1,049 adults from all 50 states and the District of Columbia between Dec. 4-11, 2017. The poll has a confidence level of 95%.
There’s no doubt it takes a special kind of person to be a nurse. But, to everyone who is one of those special people, Fortis Colleges and Institutes offer one of the nation’s largest nursing education and training networks. From licensed practical or vocational nurses to registered nursing (RN) degrees and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Fortis schools can provide the education and skills to help you excel in the profession.
To learn more about Fortis nursing options and the campuses nearest to you offering nursing programs, visit our Nursing Programs page.
