Why is Nursing One of the Most Trusted Professions?
by Carson-Newman … on February 7, 2020
Updated April 11, 2025
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Today’s nursing professionals are empowered to provide care plans, evidence-based treatment, wellness education, and so much more.
Caring for people during their time of need is rewarding personally and professionally. Practitioners of all levels, from bedside to leadership, are held in high esteem and trusted for their professionalism and nursing values.
Carson-Newman's accredited Online Nursing Degree and Certificate programs help nurses develop clinical competencies for holistic, compassionate care and broaden their impact in their communities.
In this article, we'll look at why nursing is a trusted and respected profession, along with the nurse values and qualities that are essential for success.
Nursing is a respected profession.
Nurses have an excellent reputation.
Nurses are regarded as honest and caring by the general public, providing medical care while being mindful of people's privacy.
Gallup’s 2023 Honesty and Ethics poll revealed nurses remain the most trusted of 23 professional groups for the 22nd consecutive year.
Nearly 8 in 10 U.S. adults believe nurses have very high or high honesty and ethical standards. Nurses even outranked other medical professionals, including pharmacists and physicians.
Nurses treat patients as more than a number.
Years ago, patients were not considered part of the care process; health care professionals simply diagnosed and treated the problem. However, delivering a good health care outcome is not the same as delivering a good patient experience.
Today, nurses put the patient at the center of care by asking questions, providing guidance, setting expectations, and listening to patients’ concerns with respect and compassion.
Why are nurses respected?
Nurses are at the forefront of public health care challenges, natural disaster relief efforts, research, and public health education.
Nurses work across a large spectrum, addressing health care problems in entire families. For example, while treating a patient, a nurse may notice that one of their family members is struggling with issues like addiction or mental health. Nurses step in to provide support by connecting patients and their families to resources for care and treatment.
Additionally, nurses may notice and address issues in their community. For instance, if many patients are experiencing similar illnesses, it may indicate the rise of a disease or an environmental hazard that should be reported. The recent COVID-19 epidemic is a relevant example.
Nursing values for compassionate care
Nurses are trusted and respected for the values, principles, and standards that guide them to provide compassionate, quality care for optimal outcomes.
Empathy
Showing empathy is vital to the nurse-patient relationship. Only when a nurse can “walk in their patient’s shoes” can they demonstrate a connection and act on their understanding to deliver compassionate care. Developing cultural awareness is key to seeing and understanding patients’ points of view without judgment.
Integrity
Nurses demonstrate integrity by respecting patients’ dignity, treating them with respect, honestly communicating, following through, and upholding ethical standards. Having integrity shows patients that nurses are invested in their healing and recovery.
Advocacy
Advocating for their patients is one of nursing's most important roles. Advocacy helps protect patient outcomes, defends against social injustice, and removes barriers to quality patient care.
Cultural Competency
Understanding, appreciating, and responding to diverse patient populations is a vital nursing skill. Cultural competency in nursing is accepting and respecting differences in race, ethnicity, religion, gender, socioeconomic status, age, abilities, political beliefs, and more without compromising quality health care.
Accountability
Being accountable is taking responsibility for one’s actions, including any mistakes that might have been made. Nurses are human, and errors may occur, but willingness to take ownership of those mistakes is essential for a nursing professional.
All nurses follow a professional Code of Ethics established by the American Nurses Association. These principles serve as a moral compass and guide nurses to practice with integrity and honesty for patient-centered care.
Nursing qualities for success
Nurses are better trained than they were decades ago.
More nurses are taking their bachelor’s degree to the next level by earning their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and enjoying more career autonomy.
Those who advance to nurse practitioners (NPs) with an MSN have a greater opportunity to influence patient outcomes and increase the level of care they provide with less or no supervision from a physician.
As nursing constantly evolves, earning an MSN keeps nurses updated on the latest innovations and best practices to deliver patient-centered care.
Nurses are stepping into leadership roles.
Earning an MSN allows nursing professionals to move into leadership or administrative roles in which they can have more of an impact on patient-centered care as well as policies and procedures that positively influence health care outcomes.
More than 430,000 licensed NPs nationwide provide nearly one billion patient visits annually.
The role of nurse practitioner is so highly regarded that U.S. News & World Report named the NP the No. 1 Job in America in 2025. For the second consecutive year, NPs earned the top rank in three categories: Best Job, Best Health Care Job, and Best STEM Job.
The rankings are based on a number of factors, including job growth and demand, advancement potential, work/life balance, compensation, and job satisfaction.
“NPs are uniquely equipped to address some of the most pressing health care challenges — ensuring that patients across the country have access to high-quality primary and specialty care. Their commitment to patient-centered care is transforming lives, improving health outcomes, and reinforcing public trust in the health care profession,” stated current AANP President Stephen A. Ferrara, DNP.
Broaden your impact and expand your role.
If you’re a nurse who wants to have more of an impact on patient care and lead teams for better health care outcomes, earning an MSN is the right path for you. Higher education can mean more earning potential and increased employability for you, too.
Carson-Newman offers flexible online nursing degree and certificate programs for those interested in a faith-based education who want to grow personally and professionally.
Contact us to discuss how to get started and make a difference in your community.