2008 Top Ten Honesty and Ethics Rankings by Profession 1. Nurses - 84 percent 2. Druggists/Pharmacists - 70 percent 3. High school teachers - 65 percent 4. Medical doctors - 64 percent 5. Policemen - 56 percent 6. Funeral directors - 47 percent 7. Accountants - 38 percent 8. Journalists - 25 percent 9. Bankers - 23 percent 10. Building contractors - 22 percent Source: Gallup Poll, 2008 Survey on Honesty and Ethics

Nurses Shine as America's Most Trusted Profession

Americans have once again placed nurses in the number one position in an annual Gallup survey on honesty and ethics. Eighty-four percent of Americans described the ethics of nurses as "very high" or "high" compared with 20 other professions, earning them the top spot for the seventh consecutive year.

"When patients and families are affected by illness, they instill a great level of trust in nurses," said Andrea Higham, director of the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future. "Nurses are on the front-line of health care, providing the comfort, care and support that families need to heal."

Since appearing on the list in 1999, nurses have received top accolades, with an exception in 2001, when firefighters topped the list.

Druggists or pharmacists, high school teachers, medical doctors, policemen and funeral directors are also among the most highly regarded professionals.

For more information on the 2008 Gallup survey, visit www.gallup.com/poll.

Source: Gallup Poll, 2008 Survey on Honesty and Ethics

As Nursing School Enrollment Rises, Faculty and Capacity Constraints Worsen 

Enrollment in nursing programs is on the rise for the eighth consecutive year. While this increase indicates a positive trend, it is not enough to meet future nursing workforce demands.

Data released this month by The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), reveals that enrollment in entry-level nursing programs increased by only 2 percent from 2007 to 2008, a significant decline since 2003 when enrollment was up by more than 16 percent. Enrollment growth in graduate nursing programs also has decreased.

"The nation's nursing schools are facing considerable barriers to expanding student capacity despite the calls for more nurses to replace the large segment of the workforce expected to retire within the next ten years," said AACN President Fay Raines. "This year's enrollment increases are welcome, but largely insufficient to meet the projected demand for nursing clinicians, educators and researchers into the foreseeable future."

In a recent commentary published Nov. 26 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Dr. Peter Buerhaus, Valere Potter Distinguished Professor of Nursing and director, Center for Interdisciplinary Health Workforce Studies at Vanderbilt University, suggests that a large and prolonged shortage of RNs is expected to develop in the next decade as large numbers of RNs retire, threatening access and quality, and increasing health care costs.

By the year 2020, more than 500,000 registered nurses will be needed to meet the fast growing demands of the nation's health care system. Interest in nursing careers remains strong, but nearly 30,000 qualified applicants were turned away from more than 400 entry-level nursing programs in 2008.

Lack of faculty, clinical sites and classroom space, along with budget cuts at nursing colleges are recognized as the main reasons for not accepting qualified applicants.

Improving the nursing shortage will require a collective effort, including using the current workforce more efficiently, retaining older RNs and expanding the size of the future workforce by funding educational programs and recruiting diverse populations, explains Buerhaus.

"If our nation's nursing schools are to effectively address the current and future nursing shortage, we must find ways to expand student capacity and accommodate all qualified applicants in our programs," added Raines.

AACN's Annual Survey of Institutions with Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Nursing Programs reports actual (not projected) data on enrollment and graduations for baccalaureate and graduate degree programs in nursing.

For more information, visit www.aacn.nche.edu.

A Call to Service

Each year, thousands of nurses across the country give back to Uncle Sam by enlisting in the Unites States military. The freedom to travel and gain new experiences in diverse settings outside of traditional nursing is the main draw to military nursing. Military nurses provide nursing care for fellow soldiers in all branches of the U.S. military, including Army, Navy, Air Force and in the U.S. Public Health service.

"Anyone who is thinking about joining the military should take the time to explore the options," said Lieutenant Colonel Steve McColley, CRNA Army Reserves. "While there are many advantages, such as receiving money for college, the people who are motivated to provide the best possible care to the soldiers defending our country are the ones who stay."

Each branch of the military offers a wide range of opportunities for education and advancement in rigorous clinical environments. By rotating through different nursing specialties in military hospitals around the world, nurses gain a wealth of experience. While many of their day-to-day tasks are standard nursing practices, environmental challenges exist that require these nurses to be resourceful in their surroundings.

"It takes a special type of person to work as a military nurse," said Lt. Col. McColley. "Many of the people on our team are not used to the amount of trauma we experience in the field. Prior to being deployed, we always spend two weeks at a trauma center to brush up on our skills so that we're equipped for whatever is thrown our way."

For more information on military nursing, visit www.discovernursing.com.

JEAN M. DAILEY, RN, BSN, MSN
Colonel, Army Nurse Corps
Chief, Nursing Service
Brooke Army Medical Center
Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Q: Why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing?
A: I decided to become a nurse when I was in high school. I wanted a secure career, and I felt the nursing profession was a strong and respected profession. While in high school, I volunteered as a candy striper and belonged to the Future Nurses Association.

Q: What inspired you to become a military nurse?
A: One summer, I met a couple of junior year nursing students who had signed an agreement to have the Army pay for their last two years of nursing school in exchange for committing three years to the Army Nurse Corps. Through this agreement, they were eligible to fly on military flights and were preparing to spend the summer flying standby on military "hops" throughout Europe. I thought, "What a great experience!" During my senior year in high school, I applied and was accepted to a similar student nurse program. I graduated from the University of Maryland School of Nursing in Baltimore with a BSN and was commissioned a first lieutenant. The education and training opportunities that I received from the military have been unmatched by any other institution.

Q: What advice would you offer to individuals interested in becoming a military nurse?
A: Seek out an Army nurse or someone who has been an Army nurse and listen to their experiences. The career path for Nurse Corps officers is phenomenal. Not only are Army nurses taught to be expert clinicians, they are taught how to be leaders as well. Each officer follows a life cycle model that assists them in their professional development, clinical and operational assignments (to include deployments), education, research and administration. There are a variety of incentives for choosing the Nurse Corps, such as civilian loan repayment, specialty training, incentive pay for specific skill sets and certification, long-term health education and training programs. Military nursing offers many opportunities for specialty training and advanced degrees such as Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse Practitioner, Public Health Nursing and PhD programs.

Q: How has nursing impacted your life?
A: I love going to work everyday, knowing no two days are the same. Choosing the nursing profession has opened many doors and opportunities for me, for which I am very grateful.

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