The aim of this study was to explore the concept acute semantically. The concept is being used both in clinical and theoretical contexts, without questioning whether a clear meaning of the concept has been established. The analysis has been applied according to the semantic analysis strategy of the philosopher (and pedagogue) Koort (1975). First, the results show that the concept of acute has had an unclear meaning and perception in the Norwegian language. Second, the synonyms indicate two different contents. The experiences and events that occur acute might be experienced as 'sharp' and 'intense'. The synonyms point also at time, such as quick, rapid and swift. Third, it reveals that the shortlived experience as synonym does have a very little binding to the concept acute. The occurence that began suddenly is not meant to subside the same way as it began.

Persons experiencing disease and illness experience suffering as well. How nurses assess patients' problems holistically has been debated a lot. This article suggests one possible way of assessing patients' situation as a whole by seeing patients' diseases in relation to suffering.

The aim of this study was to show how patients' reactions in periods of crisis of acute illness influenced and made the learning process more difficult. Eleven patients with first-time acute cardiac infarction were interviewed. Many of the patients expressed the positive dimensions of having had cardiac infarction. This was especially true in the case of the younger patients. They stressed the opportunity of taking time-out from a stressed life as a new opportunity. The patients wished to be viewed as competent individuals. They reported getting very little help from their healthcare professionals, and were indeed self-therapeutic while they were in hospital. The question is therefore asked whether the patients receive care if they are perceived as patients able to cope.