Nursing consistently earns recognition in annual Gallup polls as the most trusted profession,1 highlighting nurses’ high ethical standards and dedication. Patients are often at their most vulnerable when needing nursing care, and we earn their trust by practicing with expertise, clear communication, and kindness.
Some patients with knowledge of health care trust nurses because they understand our years of formal preparation, educational requirements, and high ethical standards. Others may have had previous experiences that shaped their trust of nurses. But many patients with low health literacy or lack of personal experience with the medical system may trust nurses out of necessity, hoping their confidence is not misplaced. Nurses consistently step up to this challenge, advocating for those in our care and earning the trust of our patients and their families.
Earning trust does not stop with our patients. We are trusted by the clinicians on our team and...