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A study was made among students and instructors of three schools of nursing at São Paulo City, Brazil, on number of smokers, non smokers and previous smokers and the causes that led them to start smoking as well as to withdraw from the habit. In a population of 636 studients the authors found 24.1% smokers, 68.5% non smokers, 7.4% previous smokers. The percentage of 117 instructors were 23.1%, 62.4% and 14.5% respectively. The reason for start smoking most frequently mentioned by both groups was curiosity (35.2% and 28.2% respectively). For leaving the habit was conscience of damage to health (72.5% and 65.2%). For the non smokers this was the main reason for never starting the habit. The authors studied also the age of start smoking, number of cigarettes smoked per day. The outside influences for smoking or not orientation of others about the damages of smoking to health were also considered.

The author makes a general approach about dyspnea and the importance of nursing assistance for the patient in this eventuality. It's studied the general conditions about this patient and nursing's actuation.

The author presents the results of a study of the reactions of cardiac and pulmonary patients to an attach of dispnea. She discusses the prevalent problems and the desirable attitude of nursing personnel.

Students and "instructors" opinions were collected on the teaching of the Medical Nursing I program (for undergraduates) and on their experience on the respiratory, cardiologic, neurological, digestive and renal hospital units. 63.2% of the students felt the objectives had been reached, 77.2% that there was "some uniformity" of teaching each unit, that their hospital experience had been satisfactory in both quality and quantity in all units but in the Neurology units (one of these units was being remodeled and could not be used), that bibliography was sufficcient and adequate (73.7%), that there had been correlation between theory and practice in all units, and that evaluation had been satisfactory. Evaluation by instructors of some itens was not very different.

The authors describe succintly concept, physiopathology and most common causes of vomiting and hematemesis and the needed nursing care when such conditions are present.

Urine Type I laboratorial exam anl it's physical, chemical and microscopic characteristics are presented, as novell as the care needed for it's collection, order to oftain accurate results in the analysis of urianry elements.

The authors describe the predisposing factors of post-operative pulmonary complications (old age, malbalanced hydratation and nutrition, exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases) as well as the aggravating factors (anesthesia, immobilization in bed, abdominal distention, pain). They present the objectives of nursing intervention, pre and post operative measures to prevent pulmonary complications, early identification of clinical signs of respiratory failure, and treatment.

The author assesses the specific expectancies of the dispneic patient related to nursing assistance and nursing attendance. The coincidence of data obtained from informations given by both the patient and the nursing personnel is also studied.