The Gallup 2009 annual Honesty and Ethics of Professions poll has found that nurses are at the top of a list of 22 professions for being considered to have the highest of ethical standards (83% of Americans polled).
Next in line were druggists/pharmacists (66% rating), medical doctors (65%), police officers (63%), and engineers (62%).

Does that mean that all nurses are ethical?... no, of course not.
Nor does it mean that people in professions ranked lower are unethical.
This is a perception of Americans polled. To read more, go to...
http://www.gallup.com/poll/1654/Honesty-Ethics-Professions.aspx

Since 1999, nurses have been at the top of the list of professions
except for 2001 when firefighters topped the list after Sept. ll.

As I write this today... there is a trial going on in Texas about a nurse whistle-blower.
I will not go into this any further as I do not know all the details, but let me say this... as nurses, we ARE your advocates.
We have a moral obligation to protect you in every way possible as we care for you.
This is what I was taught and this is what I believe.
Of course, there is a chain of command and most hospitals have ethics committees and protocols in place.

It will be a sad day when nurses cannot speak out with concern for patient safety because they fear losing their jobs.
The outcome of this trial will be big... for nurses and for the patients they serve.

Update...
February 11, 2010... Anne Mitchell RN was found NOT GUILTY for harrassment of the doctor.

To read more about this case... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/us/12nurses.html

I honor you for speaking out on behalf of the safety of patients and urge ALL nurses to do what is right and what is ethical.

Update as reported in the Dallas Morning News, November 8, 2011...
"A West Texas doctor who pleaded guilty Monday to retaliating against two nurses for reporting him to state medical regulators will spend two months in jail and be on probation for five years.
Prosecutor David Glickler said Dr. Rolando G. Arafiles Jr., 59, must also surrender his medical license."