NICE VS. COMPETENT

When my mother fell and was injured, she was sent to St Luke's hospital here in Houston (2007). She had turned 90 a month earlier, and seemed to be suffering from dementia, unable to communicate much with others. The injury was causing her much pain.
In the hospital there was a nurse from one of the countries of Asia who was very business-like and brusk. I thought of her initially as less caring than some other nurses because of her manner.
However, in the few days that my mom was in her care, I saw how this excellent nurse did several things, and tweaked things to make mom's care the best it could be. I was sad to leave the acquaintance of this woman, even as I was mourning the looming death of my mom.
That was a real eye opener about the difference between niceness and competence,
appearance and substance.