Thank you for the interesting and informative original post. I would add honor, courage, and egalitarian attitude to the list of desirable traits for health care professionals, inclusive of nurses. Patients, in general, have little knowledge of health care. However, they are quick to discern those character traits in health care professionals which they deem in appropriate, inclusive of a lack of honor, trustworthiness, a lack of commitment to their health goals (courage), and a lack of respect for them as individuals (an egalitarian attitude). As a result, patients will seek out health care professionals who have the aforementioned desirable traits as it is in their long term health care interest to do the same. The Hippocratic Oath states the same in a more dramatic yet archaic manner:

 I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement:

To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art, without charging a fee;

and that by my teaching, I will impart a knowledge of this art to my own sons, and to my teacher's sons, and to disciples bound by an indenture and oath according to the medical laws, and no others.

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.

I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.

But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.

I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.

In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.

All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.

Thank you to both of you for posting such great comments on the forum... Teresa