Most Trusted Profession

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I heard a news blurb on the radio last night. The results of the latest polls indicate that the number one, most trusted profession in the US today is...Nurses! I had no idea.

I wanted to provide a link, but a search this morning of the net was fruitless. Anybody else out there able to find anything?

Kevin McHugh

I also heard that on the radio the other day. I think it said that nurses have been in the top three for like the last 20 years... I will search for a link.

Kristy

Here's a site that shows it, but I can't get it to bring up the poll. It's at the bottom of the page on the right side....will try to find a better link.

http://www.atlantahighered.org/resources/data/gallup.html

Nurses Continue to Receive Highest Ratings

Nurses, whose honesty and ethics are rated as "high" or "very high" by 79% of Americans, top the list again this year. Nurses have been the highest rated profession since they were first included in Gallup's survey in 1999, except for 2001, when firefighters surpassed them in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks (firefighters were not included in this year's survey). Other top-rated professions are pharmacists (at 67%, and the highest rated profession prior to the introduction of nurses to the list), military officers (65%, a new addition to the list), high school teachers (64%) and medical doctors (63%).

Looking at the other end of the spectrum, the public's rating of the honesty and ethics of telemarketers is the lowest of any of the professions tested. Only 5% of Americans rate this group's honesty and ethics as high or very high. Car salesmen are rated just about as negatively as telemarketers are; only 6% of Americans rate their honesty and ethics highly. Advertising practitioners are given positive ratings by only 9% of the public, down from a 14% reading earlier this year.

Here's the link to see the breakdown: http://www.gallup.com/poll/releases/pr021204.asp

Kristy

Disregard the above post...that link was bad

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

I've heard this yes, since I can remember. At first it was fascinating and uplifting; kind of a small pat on the back. But over time, it pisses me off.

So they trust us. How nice. But they still don't hold a high enough opinion of us to DO anything for us. No, instead, I've had patients treat me like an overpaid waitress. Maybe 2 of them actually appreciate me for what I do.

Heck, most of the patients at my clinic think the MA is a nurse, so who are these people really thinking of when they are polled?

So I guess it doesn't impress me anymore. Meh.

We rank among the most highly trusted here too.

"From time to time, the media publish results of surveys of the standing of various professions in Australia. They rarely throw up surprises. Nurses are generally among the most trusted professionals, often more trusted than doctors."

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/02/23/1014389606462.html

..BUT.....it does us no good........

"According to an Australian Institute of Criminology study (July 1999), the healthcare industry is the most violent industry in Australia and nurses are more at risk of being violently assaulted at work than either prison or police officers."

(Australian Nursing Federation http://www.anfvic.asn.au/media_releases/020401.html )

Food for thought

I'm with Susy and aus nurse here. I was very happy the first time I heard this, until I noticed over the years that trust did not necessarily equal respect. Or decent pay or working conditions.

True true true! When I get the respect of the others that are at the top of the list, I'll start to believe it. And, when I'm not treated like a servant I'll think we've come further than the study suggests!

Kristy

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