Nurses again came in at the top of the list in the 2005 Gallup Organization's annual poll which asks citizens to rate various professions for their honesty and ethical standards. There were 21 professions rated, and included nurses, pharmacists, physicians, police officers, clergy, teachers and others.

Nurses were first included in this poll in 1999 and have been the highest rated profession every year except 2001. Firefighters rated highest in the poll conducted shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks that year. Americans consistently give high ratings in this poll to professionals in health care and other public service, including public safety.