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Objective: Educational nursing intervention is a strategy that can be useful for changing behaviours in a person’s health. Hospitalisation for coronary surgery is a valuable opportunity for the nurse to implement the knowledge which aims to promote healthy behaviours and secondarily, prevent coronary and cardiovascular disease, as these continue to be the main causes of death worldwide. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of educational nursing intervention in the promotion of a healthy diet and in the anthropometric values (body mass index and waist perimeter) of people who have undergone coronary surgery.Methods: A quantitative and quasi-experimental study was conducted on a control group (20 participants in each group). The experimental group was submitted to a personalised structured educational intervention during hospitalisation, in the nursing follow-up visit (two to three weeks after surgery) and over the phone (two months after surgery). Each group went through two evaluations: the first before the surgery, and the second three months after the surgery. The instruments used to collect data included: the sociodemographic and clinical characterisation questionnaire and the Eating Habits Scale. Non-parametric tests were used.Results: The findings showed that 77.5% of the participants were male and 22.5% female. The participants’ average age was 67.35 ± 8.151. Results showed a significant improvement in the eating habits of both groups, with higher relevance in the experimental group and a reduction of the body mass index and waist perimeter exclusively in the experimental group.Conclusions: Regarding people who have undergone coronary surgery, personalised structured educational nursing intervention is a useful tool in obtaining health benefits and in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. More extensive and comprehensive studies are recommended to verify the results and enhance their success.

Background: Accurate blood pressure (BP) measurement is a constant challenge, particularly in intensive care units. Thus, studies focusing on avoiding errors in practices of measuring BP are important to patient safety. The objective was to assess the effects of an educational intervention addressing BP measurement, targeting the theoretical and practical knowledge of nurses from a cardiac unit.Methods: This quasi-experimental, before-and-after, study was conducted in a large tertiary hospital in Brazil and included all nurses working in that unit (31 nurses, 86.1%). Data were collected through two types of assessments: practical and theoretical knowledge of the technique, before-and-after the educational intervention that involved simulation as a teaching strategy. A validated checklist was used for both assessments.Results: Most participants were female (64.5%), with an average age of 33.1 years old. Considerable improvement was observed in theoretical and practical knowledge concerning the steps used for BP measurement (p < .05). Considering the total sample, nurses complied with all steps of the BP measurement after educational intervention and the results were considered statistically significant (p < .05).Conclusions: The educational intervention improved the knowledge of nurses, which may contribute to safer healthcare delivery and error-free BP measurements.

Objective To determine and to analyze the theoretical and practical knowledge of Nursing professionals on indirect blood pressure measurement. Methods This cross-sectional study included 31 professionals of a coronary care unit (86% of the Nursing staff in the unit). Of these, 38.7% of professionals were nurses and 61.3% nurse technicians. A validated questionnaire was used to theoretical evaluation and for practice assessment the auscultatory technique was applied in a simulation environment, under a non-participant observation. Results To the theoretical knowledge of the stages of preparation of patient and environment, 12.9% mentioned 5-minute of rest, 48.4% checked calibration, and 29.0% chose adequate cuff width. A total of 64.5% of professionals avoided rounding values, and 22.6% mentioned the 6-month deadline period for the equipment calibration. On average, in practice assessment, 65% of the steps were followed. Lacks in knowledge were primary concerning lack of checking the device calibration and stethoscope, measurement of arm circumference to choose the cuff size, and the record of arm used in blood pressure measurement. Conclusion Knowledge was poor and had disparities between theory and practice with evidence of steps taken without proper awareness and lack of consideration of important knowledge during implementation of blood pressure measurement. Educational and operational interventions should be applied systematically with institutional involvement to ensure safe care with reliable values. Objetivo Determinar e analisar o conhecimento teórico e prático de profissionais de Enfermagem sobre a medida indireta da pressão arterial. Métodos Estudo descritivo, transversal, com profissionais de Enfermagem de uma unidade coronariana. Participaram do estudo 31 sujeitos (86% da população), sendo 38,7% enfermeiros e 61,3% técnicos em enfermagem. A avaliação teórica ocorreu por meio de questionário validado, e a prática, com técnica auscultatória, em simulação, sob observação não participativa. Resultados Sobre o conhecimento teórico do preparo do cliente e ambiente, 12,9% citaram repouso de 5 minutos, 48,4% conferiram calibração e 29,0% escolheram o manguito correto. Já 64,5% evitaram o arredondamento dos valores, e 22,6% citaram o prazo semestral para a calibração dos aparelhos. Na avaliação prática, em média, 65% das etapas foram cumpridas. Dentre as lacunas desse conhecimento, destacaram-se a ausência de checagem da calibração do aparelho e do estetoscópio, a medida da circunferência braquial para escolher o manguito, e o registro do braço usado na medida. Conclusão: O conhecimento foi insatisfatório, com discrepâncias entre a teoria e a prática, com indícios de etapas cumpridas sem a devida consciência, e conhecimentos importantes negligenciados na execução da medida da pressão arterial. Intervenções educativas e operacionais devem ser sistematicamente aplicadas, com o envolvimento institucional, para garantir segurança da assistência com valores fidedignos.