The purpose of this study was to examine the limitations of therapeutic education for patients with cardiovascular risk factors during short hospital stays. The paper presents the results of a qualitative study conducted over the course of a year involving 18 case studies of professional practices and 18 interviews with 5 health professionals and 13 patients. The results show that professionals and patients have conflicting views about the time spent in hospital, as well as conflicting concerns and expectations, thus limiting the effectiveness of educational care. The findings suggest that after acute myocardial infarction or a stroke, patients tend to view themselves as survivors during their experience of short-term hospitalization in a care unit. As a result, short-term hospitalization may not be conducive to the mobilization of patients' cognitive and emotional capacities in a therapeutic education program.