Nurses voted most trusted profession
By Gemma Raw
Those working in nursing jobs have once again topped a poll which identifies people who are most trusted by the general public to tell the truth.
The IPSOS Veracity Index 2022 includes a list of 30 professions, ranging from teachers to taxi drivers. 89% of survey respondents said that those working in nursing roles were the most trustworthy. Engineers are next on the list at 87% and doctors come a close third at 85%. The five least-trusted professions are politicians, advertising executives, government ministers, estate agents and journalists.
While nurses and doctors have consistently been among the most trusted professions since the survey began in 1983, their scores have fallen year-on-year. In 2021, a staggering 94% of respondents said they trusted nurses to tell the truth, while trust in doctors was at 91%.
However, the decline in trust of medical professionals is relatively small in comparison with politicians. Their score of 12% puts them firmly at the bottom of the index. That’s not only a seven percent decline year-on-year, but also the lowest they’ve scored since 2009, when the reputation of parliament had been severely damaged by the expenses scandal.
“The profession at the bottom of the list should be careful how it speaks to and about the one at the top,” said RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive Pat Cullen. “In large number, people are showing their support for our members as we push for safe patient care and a well-respected nursing profession. Nursing staff are patients’ greatest advocates.”
Why do people trust nurses?
It’s not just the IPSOS survey that shows that nurses are highly trusted. Research around the world has consistently shown that nursing is ranked as one of the most trustworthy professions, and in many cases the most trusted of all healthcare jobs, outperforming doctors, pharmacists and allied health professionals. For example, nurses have consistently topped a Gallup poll in the USA, which asks people how honest and ethical they perceive various professions to be.
So, why do people put so much trust in the integrity of nurses? One of the main reasons seems to be that they are the ones who are consistently on the frontline of patient care. It’s their holistic approach which singles them out from other medical professionals, such as hospital consultants or physiotherapists. While it’s doctors who specify and manage a patient’s overall care plan, it’s nurses who actually put it into practice and spend the most time with the patient. The compassion, thoughtfulness and dedication they bring to their roles adds a lot of value to their medical skills and knowledge.
“If someone is really sick, there will be consultants from neurology, cardiology, radiology, and more,” explained John Paris, a bioethicist at Boston College, in an interview with Boston.com. “The nurse is the only one with any continuity.’’
The strongest bonds between people are often made during the most challenging times. When we’re ill or injured, nurses are there for us, which is why they’ll always deserve our respect and trust.
