Objective: This study aimed to determine the levels of mindfulness and self-efficacy among patients with hypertension and to examine the relationship between these two variables.

Method: This descriptive study was conducted with 152 patients with hypertension who applied to the cardiology outpatient clinic of a public tertiary care hospital. Data were collected using a Patient Information Form that included sociodemographic, disease-related, and lifestyle characteristics, as well as the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and the Hypertension Self-Efficacy Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the independent samples t test, the one-way ANOVA test, and Pearson’s correlation analysis.

Results: The mean total score on the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale was 54.91 ± 14.03, and the mean total score on the Hypertension Self-Efficacy Scale was 52.54 ± 9.99. A statistically significant positive relationship was found between the mean total score of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and the mean total score of the Hypertension Self-Efficacy Scale at a very weak level. Patients who followed a salt-free diet specific for hypertension (P = 0.001), consumed vegetables and fruits regularly (P = 0.001), exercised regularly (P < 0.05), and did not drink alcohol or smoke (P < 0.05) had significantly higher mean total scores on the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. Patients who regularly used antihypertensive medications (P < 0.05), reported taking blood pressure measurements at home (P = 0.001), followed a salt-free diet specific for hypertension (P = 0.001), consumed vegetables and fruits regularly (P = 0.001), performed regular physical exercise (P = 0.001), did not drink alcohol (P < 0.05), and did not smoke (P < 0.05) had significantly higher mean total scores on the Hypertension Self-Efficacy Scale.

Conclusion: The mindfulness and self-efficacy levels of patients with hypertension are above average. As patients’ mindfulness increases, their self-efficacy levels also increase.

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between frailty, self-care behaviors, and the frequency of hospital readmissions in geriatric patients with heart failure.

Method: This study involved 205 patients with heart failure, aged 65 years and older, who voluntarily agreed to participate and were hospitalized in the cardiology services of a state hospital. Data were collected using the "Personal and Medical Characteristics Form," the "Edmonton Frailty Scale," and the "European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviors Scale." The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 22 program, with a 95% confidence interval and a significance level of P < 0.05.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 74.40 ± 7.25 years. According to statistical analysis, the mean total score on the European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviors Scale was 32.74 ± 7.29, and the mean score on the Edmonton Frailty Scale (EPS) was 8.78±3.92. There was a high positive correlation between frailty and self-care behavior scale scores and a weak positive correlation between frailty level and the frequency of hospital readmission (P < 0.01). European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviors Scale scores explained 52% of the change in Edmonton Frailty Scale scores (R² = 0.520).

Conclusion: It was concluded that 69.2% of geriatric patients with heart failure were frail at various levels, 69.3% had appropriate self-care behaviors, and 50.2% had been hospitalized at least once for heart failure. Based on these results, it is recommended that nurses simultaneously assess frailty levels and self-care behaviors in geriatric patients with heart failure and organize training programs based on their needs.

Objective: This study was conducted to verify the reliability of the Braden Pressure Injury Risk Assessment Scale (BPIRAS), which is widely used in clinical settings, through an independent interobserver agreement study.

Method: This methodologically planned study was conducted with 60 patients who met the inclusion criteria. A Patient Information Form and the Braden Pressure Injury Risk Assessment Scale (BPIRAS) were used to collect data. Pressure injury risk was assessed independently by two researchers. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis was used to assess interobserver agreement in the evaluation of the findings. Results were evaluated with a 95% confidence interval, and significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 65.80 ± 11.94 years, and 73.3% were male. The most common chronic diseases were hypertension (58.3%) and diabetes mellitus (43.3%). "Excellent" agreement was found between the observers for the "Sensory Perception," "Activity," "Mobility," "Nutrition," and "Friction-Slip" subscale scores of the BPIRAS. "Good" agreement was observed for the "Moisture" subscale score. Interobserver agreement for the total scale score was determined to be excellent and statistically significant (ICC=0.924, P = 0.001).

Conclusion: The independent interobserver agreement for the Braden Pressure Injury Risk Assessment Scale was excellent (ICC=0.924, P = 0.001). Accordingly, it is recommended that the BPIRAS be used as a reliable measurement tool by nurses to assess the risk of pressure injury.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the health literacy level of hypertension patients presenting to the emergency department.

Method: This descriptive study was conducted with 250 hypertension patients presenting to the emergency department of a public hospital between February and May 2024. Data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form and the Health Literacy Scale. Data were analyzed using the independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the Tukey test.

Results: The patients' mean duration of hypertension diagnosis was 7.70 ± 7.03 years, and 84.8% of them were using hypertension medications regularly. The health literacy of hypertension patients was found to be at a moderate level. The mean scale score was higher, and statistically significant differences were observed between patients under 65 years of age, those who were married, had at least a high school education, lived in a city but were not employed, had a disease duration of less than 10 years, had no history of hospitalization, and those who took medications irregularly (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The study determined that the health literacy level of hypertension patients presenting to the emergency department was moderate. When planning activities to improve individuals' health literacy, the characteristics identified in this research should be taken into consideration.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between immobilization duration, environmental stressors, and anxiety levels in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Method: This descriptive and correlational study included 255 coronary angiography patients hospitalized in a university hospital’s coronary intensive care unit in the Black Sea Region. Participants met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate. Data collection occurred between July 2022 and July 2023 using the Personal Information Form, State-Trait Anxiety Scale, and Intensive Care Environmental Stressors Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS v26, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05.

Results: The participants' mean age was 59.19±11.82 years, and their immobilization period in the supine position averaged 6.25±1.79 hours. The mean scores were 123.71±21.71 on the Environmental Stressors Scale, 53.70±8.86 on the State Anxiety Scale, and 47.22±6.10 on the Trait Anxiety Scale. No statistically significant relationship was found between immobilization duration and environmental stress or anxiety levels. However, a weak positive correlation was observed between environmental stress and both state and trait anxiety levels.

Conclusion: Patients undergoing coronary angiography experienced above-average environmental stress levels and moderate state and trait anxiety levels. Additionally, environmental stress significantly influenced anxiety levels. These findings highlight the importance of reducing environmental stressors in clinical settings to improve patient well-being.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between rational drug use, health literacy, and self-care behaviors among individuals diagnosed with heart failure.

Method: This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 215 patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of heart failure in the cardiology clinic of Atatürk University Research Hospital. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, the Rational Drug Use Scale (RDUS), the Turkish Health Literacy Scale–32 (THLS-32), and the European Heart Disease Self-Care Behavior Scale–12 (EHDScBS-12, Turkish version). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and regression analyses.

Results: The mean scores of the participants were 47.33 ± 5.36 on the rational drug use scale, 25.39 ± 11.29 on the health literacy scale, and 28.16 ± 6.66 on the self-care behaviors scale. It was determined that 48.4% of the participants had insufficient health literacy levels, while 91.2% had appropriate self-care behavior levels. A positive correlation was found between rational drug use and health literacy, and a negative correlation was found between rational drug use and self-care behaviors; both were statistically significant (P < 0.05). In the regression analysis, health literacy explained 34.3% of the variance in self-care behaviors; however, rational drug use did not significantly predict self-care behaviors.

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that individuals with heart failure have moderate levels of rational drug use, inadequate health literacy, and adequate self-care behaviors. An increase in health literacy positively influenced the tendency toward rational drug use; however, rational drug use alone did not have a statistically significant effect on self-care behaviors.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine hypertension self-efficacy levels and the factors affecting these levels among hypertensive patients hospitalized in a university hospital.

Method: The sample of this descriptive, cross-sectional study consisted of 221 patients receiving inpatient care in the internal medicine and surgical clinics of a university hospital. Data were collected using the Patient Information Form and the Hypertension Self-Efficacy Scale (HSES). The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results: Of the patients, 58.8% were ≥65 years old and 60.2% were female. Hypertension duration was ≥11 years in 42.5% of the participants, and 57.5% had a family history of hypertension. In addition, 71.5% had at least one chronic disease other than hypertension, 35.7% were obese, and 76.0% were hospitalized in internal medicine clinics. The mean HSES score was 59.44±9.07. The presence of social security, family history of hypertension, body mass index (BMI), and the clinic where treatment was received significantly affected HSES scores (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed a negative relationship between both body weight and BMI and HSES scores (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Hypertensive patients hospitalized in the internal medicine and surgical clinics of this tertiary care hospital demonstrated above-average self-efficacy levels. However, patients with higher body weight and BMI had lower self-efficacy levels.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols present an evidence-based, holistic model of care that encompasses the entire perioperative process and aims to reduce mortality and morbidity after surgical interventions, shorten hospital stays, and increase patient satisfaction. In the field of cardiac surgery, which involves high-risk procedures, the implementation of these protocols presents various challenges and requires strong collaboration among multidisciplinary teams. Nurses, as integral members of these teams, play a central role in the effective implementation of ERAS protocols. The current literature highlights that nurses provide preoperative counseling and patient education, ensure patient safety during the intraoperative period, actively contribute to the surgical process, and assume critical responsibilities in the postoperative period, including monitoring, pain management, nutritional follow-up, and the promotion of early mobilization. These roles demonstrate that nurses are not only care providers but also guiding and transformative contributors to the treatment process. Enhancing the knowledge and skill levels of nurses, who play a key role in the success of the protocol, supports the effective implementation and sustainability of ERAS protocols. In this context, the present review aims to examine current ERAS protocols applied in cardiac surgery and to emphasize the critical, transformative, and sustainable roles nurses undertake throughout the perioperative process during the implementation of these protocols.