Nursing voted most trusted profession

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 7:45 PM EST

Thinking of studying for a career in the health care field?

For the seventh consecutive year, nursing was voted the most trusted profession in America in Gallup’s annual survey of professions for their honesty and ethical standards.

Eighty-four percent of Americans believe nurses’ honesty and ethical standards are either “high” or “very high.”

While nursing topped the list of most trusted professions, it was followed by workers employed as pharmacists, high school teachers, medical doctors, policemen, clergy, funeral directors and accountants.

Telemarketers, lobbyists and car salespersons all fared poorly among the more than 1,000 Americans recently polled by Gallup.

For their part, trust in bankers fell as they were rated neutrally, along with building contractors, journalists and real estate agents.

“It’s a proud day for nurses and for nursing,” said Rebecca M. Patton, president of the American Nurses Association. “The fundamental principles of nursing are compassion and respect for the individual patient. They are what inspire each nurse to strive to promote health, prevent illness and alleviate suffering. It’s gratifying to see those principles recognized by the public we serve.”

Since being included in the Gallup poll in 1999, nurses have received the highest ranking every year except in 2001, when firefighters received top honors in the days and weeks following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

What about lawyers? The profession that is frequently vilified in popular culture wound up in the middle of the pack of trusted professions.

- Courtesy of StatePoint Media