Nurses once again ranked at the top of 23 professions in Gallup’s 2023 Honesty and Ethics poll, and that’s because they spend the most time with patients, says the dean of UB’s School of Nursing.

Released on Jan. 22, the Gallup survey found 78% of Americans rated nurses’ honesty and ethical standards as “very high” or “high.” It marks the 22nd consecutive year nurses topped the annual survey, which includes physicians, engineers, veterinarians and other professions.

Dean Annette Wysocki says the survey results reflect the critical role that nurses play in health care settings.

“Nurses are the persons who spend the most time with the patient, and we’re the ones they share the most vulnerable information with,” Wysocki explains. “When they’re in these vulnerable situations, patients tell nurses information they’ve never shared with any other health care professional.”

She adds: “During the most vulnerable times of their lives, they know nurses will advocate for them; nurses have the most contact with all other health care professions giving care to a patient, so we’re able to be a patient’s voice and navigate the layers in order to do what’s best for them.”

The new survey echoes a similar Gallup survey released last month regarding Americans’ assessment of care provided in the U.S. health care system. Nurses received the best rating, with 82% of respondents saying they provide excellent or good medical care. Physicians ranked second at 69%.