An excellent nurse is someone who is able to be both compassionate and competent. Trust and understanding between the patient and the nurse is the result of the nurse being sympathetic to the patient's (and the family's) misfortune and being able to convey complete understanding and knowledge of what they are experiencing. The nurse needs to confidently convey that she is skilled, knowledgeable, and trusted to do the right thing. These qualities result in the ultimate bond between a patient and the nurse.
