Nurses still most respected profession

While the popularity of other health professionals have dropped, nurses have consistently ranked Australia’s most trusted, Nursing Review reports.

Nurses have again topped the list as Australia’s most trusted profession, claiming the number one spot for the 18th year in a row.

Ninety per cent of surveyed Australians rated nurses as the most ethical and honest profession.

Other health professionals rated above 80 per cent for ethics and honesty, including pharmacists (88 per cent), doctors (83 per cent) and dentists (75 per cent).

However, the scores of doctors and dentists have fallen slightly (4 per cent and 1 per cent respectively), since last year’s poll. The popularity of nurses has remained consistent at 90 per cent.

School teachers were the only other profession to rate above 70 per cent.

Car salesmen were the lowest ranked profession – a position they have held for over 30 years.

Advertising professionals and real estate agents performed only slightly better.

The two professions to experience the largest percentage falls in 2012 were lawyers (30 per cent, down 8 per cent) and Ministers of Religion (43 per cent down 8 per cent) — now at their lowest ever rating for ethics and honesty since 1996.

Other professions to record a fall included public opinion pollsters and bank managers.

The Roy Morgan’s 2012 Image of Professions survey polled 651 Australians.

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