It's precisely because the patient has so much of a place in your mind, Mr. Potatohead. Sure, it'd suck to get fired, but I don't think that's what causes the anxiety: it's the worry that you haven't done all you possibly could have that gives you that sick-to-your-stomach feeling. IOW, it's that you care about doing your job well that gives you nightmares. Just my two cents. :-)