Congratulations to nurses in the United States!  In the most recent Gallup Poll on Honesty and Ethics in Professions, results of which were released on Monday, December 16, 2013, nurses are again rated at the top of the list!  82% of American adults rate the honesty and ethical standards of nurses as either “high” or “very high.”  The nursing profession has topped Gallup’s honesty and ethics profession ratings since the profession was first included in the rankings in 1999, with just one exception:  in 2001, Gallup included firefighters as a one-time response to 9/11.  This year, nurses rank 12% higher than the next professions – pharmacists and school teachers (both at 70%).
At Barco’s Nightingales Foundation, we believe this ongoing high rating reflects the professionalism and depth of knowledge nurses bring to patients along with their caring and empathetic manner.  Today, nurses are recognized as innovative, highly educated professionals dedicated to meeting the needs and demands of an increasingly technologically oriented society.  Additionally, because of the ongoing shortage, nurses have more responsibility and career options that ever before.
For example, a Clinical Nurse Leader is a relatively new nursing role that was developed to prepare highly skilled nurses focused on the improvement of quality and safety outcomes for patients or patient populations.
Nurse Practitioners (within their scope of practice) are qualified to diagnose medical problems, order treatments, prescribe medications, and make referrals for a wide range of acute and chronic medical conditions. They can serve as a patient’s primary health care provider and they can see patients of all ages depending on their specialty (e.g., family, adult, pediatrics, geriatrics, etc.).
An Independent Nurse Contractor works on a contractual basis instead of directly for a health care provider. These nurses play a major role in filling the void left by the current nursing shortage, especially in under-served areas where hiring and retaining qualified nurses is difficult.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are part of the surgery team working with, or in place of, anesthesiologists, delivering anesthesia during surgical operations.
A Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an advanced practice nurse who also assists with specialized research, education, advocacy, and sometimes management.  In addition to being Registered Nurses, a CNS is trained and educated in a particular medical specialty.  For example, a CNS of oncology may assist with clinical trials, hold informational or educational meetings for cancer patients or other oncology nurses, and may assist in developing nursing protocols or quality improvement methods within the oncology department of a hospital.
Nurse Educators pass on their knowledge and experience to the next generations of nurses. Advances like electronic medical records to point of care bar-coding allow nurses interested in technology to specialize in systems that help make healthcare more efficient.
Based on their education, nurses can specialize in certain areas of care or advance to management positions.  They can even find jobs outside medical settings, for example, with health magazines or pharmaceutical makers.
It’s little wonder, then, that this profession has earned the trust and respect of our nation.
 
Photography: Phil Borges