Nurses are the most ethical professionals according to a recent Roy Morgan poll.

This is the 16th year in a row that this poll has produced this result. Whilst this might not be surprising to most of us, neither is it a surprise to pollster Gary Morgan who said, “It is no surprise to see the medical professions of Nurses (89%, unchanged), Pharmacists (85%, up 1%) and Doctors (79%, down 3%) considered as the most ethical and honest professions."

But in the words of Professor Sumner Miller, "why is it so?". This poll is asking about "what participants know or have heard" of the profession. Is our reputation a result of the continuing archetypes and representations of nurses as 'angels of mercy' as portrayed in the media? Or is it because most people know that nurses are treating them when they are at their most vulnerable, usually over a period of time which allows for the opportunity to build relationships of rapport, trust and caring that other professionals are not able to build? Is it because nurses have developed a reputation for being fierce defenders and protectors of their patient's rights, advocating on their behalf when they are unable to do so for themselves? Is it because we have a robust regulatory system that ensures law and ethics is taught within nursing curricula across the country, there is registration of the profession, strong universal professional ethical standards (ANMC) have been developed and nurses are held to account by their peers within Professional Standards Committees, independent external investigatory bodies like Health Care Complaints commissions and formal legal standards within Nursing Tribunals? Or is it simply that the majority of people attracted to nursing are strongly ethical irrespective of ethical education, regulations or professional standards?

This is a question that is currently being asked of some research examining the legal and ethical education of medical students. Can formal ethical and legal education change behaviour, does the threat of punitive measures enhance behaviour, are ethics shaped primarily by an individual's experiences rather than theoretical teachings. What do you think? How are your professional ethics shaped?