After reading "An End to Angels" I was saddened to think that for more than 30 years I had been incorrectly practicing nursing. The attributes of the caring, compassionate, trustworthy, and honest nurse must not be important to the authors. I have worked hard over the years to expand my knowledge to meet the needs of patients and their families, and yet they remember me for caring, for being compassionate, for telling them the truth, and keeping my promises. I have seen members of my family receive wooden, cold treatment at the hands of "knowledge-based" nurses. Doesn't the 21st-century patient deserve more consideration?

Phyllis Roberts, BCH, RN

Las Cruces, NM