A few years ago I was trying to be patient while I was a patient in the hospital. I noticed the surprising similarity of these two words. You may have already noticed that they are spelled exactly the same. This article explores what it means to be a patient, how patience fits into the picture, and an alternative definition for you to consider.
What does it mean to be a patient?
Part of the answer is provided in the definition of a patient, excerpted from The World Book Dictionary (1989):
pa tient (pa' shent) n. 1.) a person who is being treated by a doctor. 2.) a person or thing that undergoes some action; recipient.
While accurate, note the lack of any active role.
Now turn to the definition of the adjective, patient:
pa tient (pa' shent) adj. 1.) willing to put up with waiting, pain, or anything that annoys, troubles, or hurts; enduring calmly without complaining or losing self-control.
This definition conveys a strong message about the importance of calmly putting up with uncomfortable events and surroundings.
Note again the lack of an active role.
A new definition
Both of these definitions miss a key component of being a patient -- the patient as active partner on the medical treatment team. Consider this proposed definition:
pa tient (pa' shent) n. 1.) a well-informed person who seeks knowledge, forms an effective partnership with doctors and other medical professionals, and makes decisions which help to shape his or her medical treatment.
You, as a patient, can gain knowledge about your disease and your treatment options. You can also get to know your doctors and other members of your medical team. You can balance the reality of your disease with preventing the disease from defining you. You can recognize that you are a customer. Although you are probably not a medical expert, you are equipped with the knowledge and power to make choices. You do not need to be passive, inactive recipient of treatment.
You can be patient, too. Patience is a wonderful alternative to anxiety! But clearly, being an effective patient requires much more than being patient.
http://www.parkviewpub.com/patienttopatient.html