Nurses Remain Most Trusted Professionals, Positioned to Combat Misinformation

Nurses Maintain Position as America’s Most Trusted Profession for 24th Consecutive Year

Nurses have secured their position as America’s most trusted profession for the 24th consecutive year, according to a new Gallup poll released this week. Since being added to Gallup’s annual honesty and ethics survey in 1999, nursing has consistently ranked at the top, reflecting the public’s enduring confidence in the profession.

The latest poll results show an impressive 75% of Americans rate nurses as honest and ethical, significantly outpacing other healthcare professions. Physicians ranked second among healthcare providers with 57% of respondents considering them trustworthy.

Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president of the American Nurses Association (ANA), celebrated the achievement, noting its deeper significance beyond mere recognition.

“This trust is more than an accolade,” Kennedy said in a statement released by the ANA. “It affirms the essential leadership role nurses play on the national stage of healthcare, in policy, in strengthened communities, and in advancing equitable, high-quality care.”

The poll results come at a critical time for the healthcare industry, which has faced unprecedented challenges in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic, staffing shortages, and an increasingly polarized information environment have tested public faith in healthcare institutions.

Many physicians and healthcare administrators acknowledge they don’t command the same level of patient trust they once did. Medical professionals report encountering more skepticism about treatments and preventive measures, particularly regarding vaccines. Doctors cite conflicting federal guidance as a contributing factor to public confusion and mistrust.

In this climate of uncertainty, nurses’ trusted position gives them unique leverage to address misinformation and health concerns. Their consistent ranking atop Gallup’s trust index suggests they may serve as vital bridges between patients and the broader healthcare system.

In a December interview with Chief Healthcare Executive, Kennedy highlighted how nurses can navigate challenging conversations about healthcare in an era of widespread misinformation and social media influence.

“Nurses are willing to have open and safe conversations with patients, and they will talk to them without judgment,” Kennedy explained. This approach creates space for meaningful dialogue rather than confrontation.

“It doesn’t do anyone good, I think, to tell someone they’re wrong, because that’s going to stop that communication,” Kennedy added. “So keeping open communication and helping move people through all of the information that is out there on the internet, I think, is vitally important.”

The trust nurses have cultivated can be particularly valuable when addressing sensitive healthcare topics. Their frontline role typically involves more extended patient contact than physicians, creating opportunities for relationship-building and education.

Healthcare systems increasingly recognize this trust as an organizational asset. Many institutions are expanding nurses’ roles in patient education, community outreach, and public health initiatives specifically because of their trusted status.

The nursing profession’s consistent top ranking also comes amid ongoing discussions about nursing education, scope of practice, and professional autonomy. As the healthcare delivery system evolves, nurses’ established trust with the public may strengthen their position in policy discussions about the future of healthcare.

Industry analysts note that maintaining this public trust will be crucial as healthcare faces continued challenges with affordability, access, and quality. In an increasingly complex healthcare environment, the human connection that nurses provide continues to serve as a cornerstone of patient care and public confidence in the medical system.