Findings of studies that registered nurses are low in qualities traditionally associated with therapeutic effectiveness in counseling—empathy, nonpossessive warmth, and genuineness—are reported. Investigations which used selected variables from the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule and from other character tests to measure attitudes of secondary school and college students in health fields and in general; nursing students in diploma, associate degree, and baccalaureate programs; and nurses in a variety of settings are compared. Nurses, the review of the literature reveals, are becoming aware of their limitations in therapeutic effectiveness and are attempting to overcome them.