It is common for a patient to become emotionally attached to his or her nurse or other caregivers. The patient may have unfulfilled emotional needs. It is reported that when health care providers are burnt out, they are more likely to develop romantic feelings towards a patient.

What is it called when nurses fall in love with patients?

The Florence Nightingale Effect explains why caregivers sometimes develop romantic and/or sexual feelings for their patients. Also known as Nightingale Syndrome, it is sometimes used to explain why caregivers show empathy and compassion for patients, even if there arent any romantic or sexual overtones.

What is the opposite of the Florence Nightingale effect?

Some references use the term for the opposite situation, in which a patient develops romantic or sexual feelings towards a caregiver. This is, in fact, a manifestation of what Sigmund Freud called transference.