They are taught that they know everything, but they don't. However, nurses are quick to say that the differences between doctors and nurses are more than just cultural misperceptions. For this reason, nurses are more aware of each patient's experience with sickness. Also, nurses are more likely to understand a patient's educational and family background, and what kind of environment a person lives in outside of the hospital. A doctor considering multiple possible treatment options often consults a nurse for a recommendation for a particular patient.
Nursing is the science of caring, of knowing what a person needs to function as a human being.
This more holistic approach to healing is complementary to doctors' biomedical methods. Ms. Matthews recounted many incidents where her knowledge of a patient's background was extremely important. She recalled one case of a baby girl who was well enough to leave the hospital only if her family was willing to use a special device to collect her urine. The doctor explained to the family that the device had to be kept lower than the level of the baby's crib, and though they did not speak English well, the parents demonstrated that they had understood. Later, when Ms. Matthews asked the parents what their home was like, they revealed that they all slept on the floor, as mattresses were very expensive.