As the health care environment continues to evolve, nurses are asked to quickly adapt, all the while providing the consistent care that patients rely on. In addition to their resilience during changing times, nurses have been identified as role models when it comes to honesty and ethics. In fact, a recent Gallup pole revealed that the public continues to rate registered nurses as the most trusted profession in the United States.
“For the 13th out of 14 years, nurses were voted the most ethical and honest profession in America in Gallup’s annual survey,” relayed the editors of a recent American Nurses Association press release. “Eighty-five percent of Americans rated nurses’ honesty and ethical standards as ‘very high’ or ‘high,’ the highest rating for RNs since nurses were first included in the poll in 1999. Since the profession’s first appearance, nurses have received the highest ranking each year except in 2001, when firefighters ranked first after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.”
The dedication exhibited by those in the field of caregiving is truly unmatched. And according to the ANA, more and more registered nurses are being recognized as leaders to transform the health care system and meet the demand for prevention, wellness and primary care services. This is in conjunction with goals to improve quality and manage costs.
“In addition to their clinical expertise, they are being sought out to serve in a variety of leadership posts on bodies developing policy recommendations related to a wide-range of health care policy issues,” the ANA reports. “Nurses consistently capture patient and public trust by performing in accordance with a Code of Ethics for Nurses that supports the best interests of patients, families, and communities. They often are the strongest advocates for patients who are vulnerable and in need of support.”
