Aim. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of aromatherapy on ICU nurses' stress.

Background. Nursing, due to its high sensitivity, is known as one of the most stressful professions. ICU nurses experience more stress than other nurses. This stress can reduce the quality of patient care and results in nurses' feelings of inadequacy and depression. Aromatherapy, as a method of complementary medicine may reduce anxiety and warring.

Method: This was a quasi-experimental study in which 70 nurses, working in intensive care unit, were divided into experimental and control groups. Nurses' stress were measured before intervention, then intervention (inhalation of Lavendula using tags for 4 consecutive shifts, each shift for 20 minutes) was was applied for the experimental group (control group received no intervention). At the end of intervention in experimental group, the stress was again measured in both groups. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square and t-test in the SPSS, version 20.

Findings. After intervention, the mean of stress in experimental group (20.57±4.20) was not statistically different when compared with control group (22.43±5/24). But, in the experimental group, the mean of stress score after intervention (20.57±4.20) was significantly lower than the mean of stress score before intervention (22.32±4.61) (P=0/001). Comparing the groups, the changes in mean stress score before and after the intervention was statistically significant (P=0.001).

Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the Lavender essence can reduce stress in ICU nurses. It is recommended that the aroma of lavender be applied to reduce stress in ICU nurses.

Aim. This study examined the effect of white noise on depression of patients in the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU).

Background. Many patients with cardiovascular disease are susceptible to experience depression after admission in Cardiac Care Unit (CCU). Depression can influence patients' recovery.

Method. This was a quasi-experimental study conducted in Shaheed Rajaei Cardiovascular Center, Tehran in 2014. Ninety patients admitted to the cardiac care unit were recruited in the study based on convenience sampling and divided into experimental and control group (45 patients in each group). Depression was measured for 3 consecutive days by depression subscale of DASS-21 questionnaire. In the experimental group, white noise with an intensity of 50 to 60 decibels was played for 30 minutes. Data were analyzed by SPSS , version 17, using independent t-test, paired t-test and chi-square test.

Findings. In control group, no statically significant difference was observed between mean scores of depression, before and after intervention (4.12±4.35 and 3.52±3.74, respectively; p=0.05). In the experimental group, the difference between mean scores of depression, before and after intervention was statistically significant (4.81±4.47 and 3.93±4.48, respectively; p=0.02).

Conclusion. According to the findings, white noise can leads to a significant reduction in depression. This intervention can be used as a simple and low-cost non-pharmacological care for these patients.

Aim. This study was conducted to examine the effect of family-centered education on the quality of life patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background. Following coronary artery bypass graft surgery, the patients face many physical, mental and social problems, which reduce their quality of life. Teaching the patient's family provides an opportunity for family members to cooperate actively in taking care and supporting patient, thereby, improve patients' quality of life.

Method. This was an experimental study in which 96 patients with their active family members were recruited according to inclusion criteria and randomly allocated to experimental (n=48) and control group (n=48). Before intervention, SF-12 Quality of Life Questionnaire (QOL) was completed by participants in both groups. Then, experimental group received family-centered education in three sessions and control group received only hospital routine educational program. Quality of life was again measured one month later. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 22.

Findings. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding demographic characteristics. Based on Mann-Whitney test, a statistically significant increase was observed in scores of QOL dimensions after intervention in the experimental group as compared with control group (P<0.0001).

Conclusion: Family-centered education in patients under coronary artery bypass graft can improve quality of life in these patients.