When it comes to honesty and ethics, nurses take top honors. In fact, they have outperformed all other professions in an annual Gallup poll 18 years in a row.
Nurses often choose their profession because they want to make a difference in people’s lives. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepares nurses with the competencies they need to be even more effective advocates for their patients.
Lamar University offers a convenient and affordable option for registered nurses (RNs) who want to take this important step in their career. Lamar University’s RN to BSN online degree program provides the flexibility nurses need to continue working. Students can graduate in just over one year, with the advanced skills and knowledge they need to elevate the quality of their nursing skills.
Why Do Nurses Outrank Other Professions?
Nurses outranked 19 other professions for honesty and ethics in the 2019 Gallup poll. A solid majority (85% of the public) rated the honesty and ethical standards of nurses as “high” or “very high.”
Three other healthcare professions also took top spots. But medical doctors, pharmacists and dentists are a distant second and third to nurses.
Engineers (66%) and police officers (54%) were the only other professions with “high” or “very high” ratings over 50%. But nursing is far and away the most trusted profession.
These high scores for honesty and ethics are not surprising given the Code of Ethics for nurses. In nursing, practicing with compassion and respect is number one on the list of requirements for ethical conduct.
Practicing with compassion and respect helps nurses build a foundation of trust with their patients. This in turn can promote improved health outcomes for patients.
What Does This Recognition Mean for Nurses?
Today’s RNs are addressing increasingly complex healthcare needs, involving ethical concerns at times. For example, every time a nurse observes poor hand hygiene, the ethical response is to advocate for safety in order to protect patients and others from infection.
Nurses can build on their reputation for honesty and ethics to expand their role as patient advocates and make sure their voices are heard when it comes to healthcare policy. The American Nurses Association (ANA) reports that the top Gallup rating helped convince lawmakers to involve nurses when making decisions that affect healthcare quality and access. For example, nurses across the country recently met with lawmakers to help pass legislative bills that combat the opioid epidemic.
More than doctors, pharmacists, teachers, police officers, bankers, building contractors, lawyers, and a dozen other professions, nurses are known for their honesty and ethical standards. They can leverage the public’s trust to advance patient advocacy at the bedside and beyond.
Learn more about Lamar University’s online RN to BSN program.
Sources:
Gallup: Nurses Continue to Rate Highest in Honesty, Ethics
American Nurses Association: Code of Ethics for Nurses
RegisteredNursing.org: The Importance of the Nurse-Patient Relationship for Patient Care
Nurse.org: Nurses Rank Most Honest Profession 17 Years in a Row
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