This paper describes how new insight into community nursing know-how or professional artistry was produced through qualitative analysis of 30 transcripts of audio-recorded simulation data. The data were generated by simulated patient assessments of two cases. These simulated assessments were undertaken by a heterogeneous sample of district nurses drawn from a large conurbation in central Scotland in 1995. The existence of multiple sets of rich, dynamic and interactive data about each case provided a sound basis for exploring important and poorly understood aspects of nursing knowledge which are generally regarded as implicit. These aspects of nursing knowledge are particularly challenging for empirical research. The findings described are believed to be of particular interest in their articulation of collaborative approaches to patient assessment. Illustrations from the data are provided, and it is argued that the validity of the findings is enhanced by the unusual nature of the database, as well as the analytical procedures described. The limitations and significance of the findings are also addressed. The empirical analysis is linked to a preliminary discussion of procedural knowledge in nursing practice. The findings are discussed with reference to certain aspects of Foucault's view of power.