Two Pregnancy Care Models in Poland-A Descriptive-Comparative Study.

Care for a pregnant woman can take various organizational forms. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends leaders increase research into health systems. The aim of this is to manage the healthcare system in such a way as to provide beneficiaries with access to high-quality services with limited financial resources. The study presented in this paper was conducted using a diagnostic survey on a group of 1697 Polish women in the traditional model of care (TM) and 3216 women in the Coordinated Care for Pregnant Women Program (CCP). Two research tools were used in this study. The first is a survey prepared by the National Health Fund, the second is an author's survey. The results indicate that most women (85%) receiving care under the CCP received effective pain management, compared to 67% under the traditional care model (p < 0.001). In the CCP, women were significantly more likely to receive midwife assistance in infant care (90%) than women in the traditional care model (60%) (p < 0.001). Significantly more CCP patients want to return to the same hospital for their subsequent childbirth (74%) than women in the traditional model of care (43%) (p < 0.001). In patients' opinion, the new CCP model is superior in meeting their needs and providing higher-quality services. However, educating women that an obstetrician-gynecologist and a midwife can manage their pregnancy is still necessary. In addition to the CCP program, special attention should be paid to available pain management during childbirth since the use of analgesia is still insufficient in Polish hospitals.

How Psychological Variables Maybe Correlated with Willingness to Get COVID-19 Vaccine: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of Polish Novice Nurses.

INTRODUCTION: Nurses became the largest medical group exposed to direct contact with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In this study, we aimed to assess the readiness and motivation for vaccination, as well as the use of sources of information and attitudes toward vaccination depending on the psychological profile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey study was conducted. The study included 145 novice nurses from 8 medical universities who completed 3-year undergraduate studies. Women constituted 97.2% of the respondents (N = 141). The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Brief Resilient Coping Scale, and an original questionnaire were used. Variables were analyzed with descriptive statistics methods. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Among the participants, 73.1% had already been vaccinated against COVID-19 (N = 106). The participants were divided into two groups: G1 (N = 98), characterized by a lower level of anxiety with higher self-efficacy and resilient coping, and G2 (N = 47), with a higher level of anxiety with poorer self-efficacy and resilient coping. The analysis of the potential correlation of psychological pattern with the decision to vaccinate was not statistically significant (p = 0.166). CONCLUSION: Psychological variables may be correlating with motivation, attitudes toward vaccination, and the choice of reliable sources of information about vaccination. Our study demonstrates the key role of two psychological variables, self-efficacy and resilient coping, in this context.

Determinants of the Impact of Fatigue on the Health of Polish Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

(1) Lockdown-related fatigue occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic is a complex problem that can be experienced in different social groups. The objective of the current study is to attempt to identify socio-demographic and lifestyle-related factors that determine the impact of fatigue on health in general as well as in physical, cognitive, and psychosocial terms and to determine whether, and to what extent, these were predictors of fatigue in nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) The study was conducted by the diagnostic poll method between 20 March and 15 December 2021 among 894 nursing students at six Polish universities. To collect the data, a validated Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) was used. (3) Students from the age group of ≤20 experienced a significantly greater impact of fatigue on health in general as well as in physical and cognitive terms. The study demonstrated a significant negative relationship between the year of study and the impact of fatigue on health in general terms (r = −0.12; p < 0.0001) and the analyzed health terms, on physical (r = −0.12; p < 0.0001), cognitive (r = −0.10; p < 0.002), and psychosocial (r = −0.07; p < 0.041). In predicting the impact of fatigue on health in general and physical terms, it was the variable related to a reduction in physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic that had the greatest contribution, while for the cognitive and psychosocial functions, it was the number of meals consumed per day. (4) It is recognized that action is needed to reduce the impact of fatigue on student health by modifying the predictors related to student lifestyles.

Health Behaviours among Nursing Students in Poland during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

(1) Background: An individual's health status can be perceived as a consequence of their health behaviours. This research aimed to determine the intensity of health-promoting behaviours and to identify factors determining the health behaviours of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: This study included 894 nursing students from six universities in Poland, and it was conducted between 20 March and 15 December 2021. A diagnostic survey was applied as the research method, and the data were collected using the Health Behaviour Inventory and the Satisfaction With Life Scale. (3) Results: Nearly half of the students participating in the study (48.43%) declared that the intensity of their general health behaviours was low. A positive and significant correlation (r = 0.426) was found between general health behaviours and satisfaction with life. A regression model demonstrated general satisfaction with life to be a predictor of taking up health-related behaviours (18%; ß = 0.34), as well as in terms of proper eating habits (4%; ß = 0.15), prophylactic behaviours (6%; ß = 0.21), positive mental attitudes (26%; ß = 0.44) and applied pro-health practices (10%; ß = 0.25). (4) Conclusions: Most nursing students showed low levels of health-promoting behaviours. More research is needed on health behaviours and their determinants among nursing students, as it may be important in explaining the mechanisms of health behaviour formation.

A Cross-Sectional, Exploratory Study on the Impact of Night Shift Work on Midwives' Reproductive and Sexual Health.

BACKGROUND: Shift work is the basis for health care system functioning. The non-standard schedules enforce abrupt changes in the timing of sleep and light-dark exposure. It can contribute to the increased risk of various medical conditions, including reproductive and sexual health issues. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of shift work with night shifts on midwives' reproductive and sexual health. METHODS: This cross-sectional, exploratory study included 520 midwives. A descriptive questionnaire was distributed in person (414) and online (106) from July 2019 to May 2020. We used the Female Sexual Function Index (PL-FSFI) standardized questionnaire and proprietary research tools (applicable to demographic and social data and reproductive health). All statistical calculations were performed with the IBM SPSS 23 statistical package. RESULTS: Shift work affects midwives' reproductive and sexual health. Midwives working night shifts are more likely to experience reproductive problems and sexual dysfunctions. The most pronounced differences are observed in the experience of infertility and the number of miscarriages. PL-FSFI results clearly showed the adverse impact of working shifts including night shifts on functioning in various dimensions of sexual health. CONCLUSION: Shift work negatively affects reproductive and sexual health and causes work-life conflict experience. It is necessary to develop procedures that minimize shift rotation and implement work schedules that allow for recuperation or rest and ensure proper family and social life.

Positive Orientation and Fatigue Experienced by Polish Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediatory Role of Emotional Control.

This study aimed to investigate the mediatory role of emotional control with respect to the control of anger, depression, and anxiety in the relationship between positive orientation and tiredness/fatigue occurring in a group of Polish nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included 894 nursing students from six universities in Poland. A diagnostic survey was applied as the research method, and the data were collected using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS) and the Positive Orientation Scale (SOP). The mean participant age was 20.73 years (SD = 1.81). More than half of the students in the study showed a low level of positive orientation. Correlational analyses revealed a significant negative correlation between positive orientation and tiredness/fatigue experienced by the students participating in the study (r = −0.336; p < 0.001), and correlation between positive orientation and the overall emotional control index (r = −0.317; p < 0.001), and the indices of control of anger (r = −0.154; p < 0.01), depression (r = −0.376; p < 0.001), and anxiety (r = −0.236; p < 0.01). Analysis of the results also revealed the occurrence of significant, positive links between the controlled emotions and their components and the tiredness/fatigue experienced by nursing students. It is important to take action associated with the prevention of tiredness/fatigue among students and to reinforce a positive orientation and the capacity to control emotions to effectively minimize the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing students.

Loneliness and Optimism among Polish Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediatory Role of Self-Efficacy.

(1) The COVID-19 pandemic is a global epidemic crisis situation with negative health consequences. This study aimed to determine the mediatory role of self-efficacy in correlations between dispositional optimism and loneliness (both general loneliness and social and emotional loneliness) among Polish nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) The study involved 894 students from six Polish universities. A diagnostic survey was used as the research method, and the Scale for the Measurement of Loneliness Scale (DJGLS), Life Orientation Test (LOT-R), and the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) were used to collect data. (3) The mean subject age was 20.73 years (SD = 1.81). More than half (51.01%) of the respondents scored high on the GSES scale, indicating an individual's belief in the self-efficacy in coping with difficult situations and obstacles. However, 40.60% scored low on the LOT-R scale, indicating that the respondents were pessimistic. The mediation analysis revealed that self-efficacy plays a partial mediatory role in correlations between dispositional optimism and loneliness in general, social and emotional loneliness. (4) It is important to undertake loneliness prophylactic and prevention activities among nursing students and to develop personal resources, i.e., optimism and self-efficacy, to effectively offset the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Influence of Nurse Education Level on Hospital Readmissions-A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

Background: Readmissions are adverse, costly, and potentially preventable. The study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of reducing readmissions resulting from missed care, depending on the level of education of nurses, from the perspective of the service provider. Methods: We calculated missed care resulting in additional readmissions based on the longitudinal study conducted between 2012 and 2014, as well as readmissions that could have been potentially prevented by adding a 10% increase in hours of nursing care provided by BSN/MSc nurses for 2014. The cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) was performed to calculate the cost-effectiveness of preventing one hospitalization in non-surgical and surgical wards by increasing the number of nursing hours provided by BSN/MSc nurses. Cost−benefit analysis (CBA) was performed, and the CBR (cost−benefit ratio) and BCR (benefit−cost ratio) were calculated. Results: Increasing the number of hours of nursing care (RN) by 10% decreased the chance for an unplanned readmission by 11%; (OR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.78−1.01; p = 0.08) in non-surgical wards and 43% (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.49−0.67; p < 0.001) in surgical wards. In non-surgical wards, the number of readmissions that were preventable with extra hours provided by BSN/MSc nurses was 52, and the cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) was USD 226.1. The number of preventable readmissions in surgical wards was 172, and the CER was USD 54.96. In non-surgical wards, the CBR was USD 0.07, while the BCR was USD 1.4. In surgical wards, the CBR was USD 0.02, and the BCR was USD 4.4. Conclusions: The results of these studies broaden the understanding of the relationship among nursing education, patient readmission, and the economic outcomes of hospital care. According to the authors, the proposed intervention has an economic justification. Hence, the authors recommend it for approval by the service provider.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Improving Nurses' Education Level in the Context of In-Hospital Mortality.

(1) Background: an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of employing an increased number of nurses with higher education from the perspective of the service provider. (2) Methods: Based on a year-long study results and data collected from a large hospital, we conducted of the costs of preventing one death. The study involved intervention by 10% increase in the percentage of nursing care hours provided by nurses with higher education. The measure of health effects was the cost of avoiding one death (CER). The cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) was used as the evaluation method. (3) Results: The cost of employing a larger percentage of nurses with higher education amounts to a total of amounts to a USD 11,730.62 an increase of 3.02% as compared to the base costs. The estimated number of deaths that could be prevented was 44 deaths. Mortality per 1000 patient days was 9.42, mortality after intervention was 8.41. The cost of preventing one death by the 10% increase in BSN/MSN NCH percentage in non-surgical wards USD 263.92. (4) Conclusions: increasing the percentage of care hours provided by nurses with tertiary education is a cost-effective method of reducing in-hospital mortality.

"Vaccinate, Do Not Hesitate!". Vaccination Readiness against COVID-19 among Polish Nursing Undergraduate Students: A National Cross-Sectional Survey.

COVID-19 vaccination raises numerous concerns among the public, and also among medical personnel including nurses. As nurses play a crucial role in the process of vaccination, it is important to recognize the attitudes of students of nursing, nurses in spe, toward COVID-19 vaccination, as well as to define the factors influencing students' pro-vaccine choices. The study was conducted between March and April 2021 at all medical universities in Poland educating nurses in spe. The study included 793 first-degree students from 12 universities. The results revealed that the vast majority of students of nursing (77.2%) were vaccinated against COVID-19, as 61.2% received an mRNA vaccine and 16% a viral vector vaccine. Every other person in the non-vaccinated group declared their intention to get a vaccination. A trend was observed whereby people co-living with persons from the risk group, who are at risk of a severe form of COVID-19, showed greater willingness to get a vaccine. The study results identified the role of universities in increasing the vaccination rate among students, both in terms of education about vaccinations and in shaping pro-vaccine attitudes among students, as well as organizing vaccinations on university campuses to facilitate the process.

Written Informed Consent-Translating into Plain Language. A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Informed consent is important in clinical practice, as a person's written consent is required prior to many medical interventions. Many informed consent forms fail to communicate simply and clearly. The aim of our study was to create an easy-to-understand form. METHODS: Our assessment of a Polish-language plastic surgery informed consent form used the Polish-language comprehension analysis program (jasnopis.pl, SWPS University) to assess the readability of texts written for people of various education levels; and this enabled us to modify the form by shortening sentences and simplifying words. The form was re-assessed with the same software and subsequently given to 160 adult volunteers to assess the revised form's degree of difficulty or readability. RESULTS: The first software analysis found the language was suitable for people with a university degree or higher education, and after revision and re-assessment became suitable for persons with 4-6 years of primary school education and above. Most study participants also assessed the form as completely comprehensible. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant benefits possible for patients and practitioners by improving the comprehensibility of written informed consent forms.

Drug-safety reporting in Polish nursing practice-Cross sectional surveys.

INTRODUCTION: Nurses play a significant role in ensuring the safety and quality of drugs. Our aim was to assess significant factors in nurses' participation in ensuring pharmacotherapy safety by reporting adverse drug reactions (ADR) and detecting substandard drugs (SD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional, comparative survey, using original questionnaires. Survey questions were grouped to probe the opinions, attitudes and practices of nurses reporting ADRs and SDs. Data were obtained from nurses working in teaching hospitals in Poland (group A) and, for comparison, in the USA (group B). 1200 questionnaires were distributed in Poland (return rate: 55.7%) and 200 questionnaires in the USA (return rate: 73%). Both groups were surveyed during the same period. There were no exclusion criteria. The questionnaires were self-administered. Distribution and collection were anonymous. Participation was voluntary. The Spearman correlation test was used. Both groups' responses were cross-tabulated and compared using Fisher's Exact Test for Count Data. RESULTS: The study group comprised 669 Polish and 146 American professionally active nurses working in general care and surgical departments. Age range: 18 to 72 years. Median job seniority: 18.3 years (group A) and 20.6 years (group B). Education levels varied. ADR reporting conditions in Poland are unfavorable: shortage of time-83.9% vs 22.6% in the US (p = 0.01); no incentive-58.2% vs 6.1% in the US (p = 0.01); and no equipment-44.7% vs 2.8% in the US (p < 0.01). Both Polish and American nurses indicate they rarely report SDs, with rates of 0.4% and 11% (p < 0.0001) respectively, during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses in Poland are insufficiently prepared to ensure drug safety conscientiously and responsibly. Training is required for Polish nurses. Nurses' employers need to improve conditions to enable reporting of ADRs and SDs.

The Implementation Process of Nurse Prescribing in Poland-A Descriptive Study.

The study aimed to investigate the situation of nurse prescribing, introduced in Poland in 2016, by analyzing the opinions of nurses, expected to be influential on nurses' actual practices, in response to legislative change to enable nurses to prescribe and comparing this with actual nurse prescribing behaviours during the early years of the legislation. The paper fills a knowledge gap and provides baseline data analysis for subsequent research. Nurses' opinions were collected during the period they were preparing themselves for prescribing. That data was compared with data on the character and extent of nurses' actual prescribing practices over the first two years of implementation. The study showed the number of nurse prescriptions increased. Comparing the first and second years of nurse prescribing, the number of nurse independent prescriptions more than doubled. Over the same period, the number of nurse supplementary prescriptions increased almost six-fold. The implementation of nurse prescribing has increased the scope of nursing care, especially in the treatment of the infections, pain and chronic conditions in the elderly.

In-hospital mortality as the side effect of missed care.

AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of the number of hours of daily nursing care for NHPPD in medical departments on missed care and the correlation between NHPPD and in-hospital mortality. BACKGROUND: Patient mortality can be a consequence of missed care as it correlates with the nurse-patient ratio. One of the methods to measure missed care is the Nursing Hours per Patient Day rating. METHODS: The study sample included 44,809 patients including 971 deaths in 8 wards. The influence of nursing hours, nursing education, and the percentage of patients' classification on in-hospital mortality were evaluated with backward stepwise linear regression. RESULTS: One hour added to the average NHPPD in medical departments was related to a decrease in mortality rate by 6.8 per 1,000 patient days and a lower chance for the emergence of unplanned death by 36%. CONCLUSIONS: The number of NHPPD and the percentage of professional nurses are factors influencing missed care and in-hospital mortality. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The severe consequences of missed care, that is mortality, and the correlation between in-hospital mortality, nursing education and nursing-patient ratio, which are indicators of care quality, are arguments for maintaining adequate staffing levels to avoid missed care.

Validation study and setting norms of the evidence based practice competence questionnaire for nursing students: A cross-sectional study in Poland.

BACKGROUND: Achieving high quality care through full use of potential stemming from the use of the principles of evidence based practice (EBP) requires adequate shaping of student attitudes toward EBP already at an early stage of education, as well as teaching in the scope of knowledge and skills essential to apply EBP in future professional work. Therefore, nursing educators need a tool to assess competency in EBP. This study aims to present the adaptation of the psychometric test and setting norms to the Polish version of the Evidence Based Practice Competence Questionnaire (EBP-COQ_P). METHODS: Poland-wide multicentre study, cross-sectional validation design, a representative sample of 1636 nursing students. The EBP-COQ_P was validated in terms of content validity through an expert review. The EBP-COQ_P was administered to evaluate test reliability and validity. Settings norms for the Polish nurse population were also done. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that 25 items are grouped into three categories which define competences related to EBP: attitude, knowledge, and skills. Cronbach's alpha was 0.856 for the entire questionnaire. EBP-COQ_P had good parameters of absolute stability. EBP-COQ_P was also characterized with external construct validity. Measurement with the use of EBP-COQ_P allowed for a good differentiation of the respondents in terms of their expertise in EBP (known-groups validity). CONCLUSIONS: In terms of reliability and validity, EBP-COQ_P is compared with its original version. EBP-COQ_P may be used in educational practice (graduate and postgraduate education). Polish norms set for a representative group of nursing students may serve as a benchmark for the results obtained from individual and group measurements.

Work patterns and a tendency among Polish nurses to leave their job.

BACKGROUND: Work patterns are important factors in employees' decisions to change their job or leave their profession. The majority of nurses in Poland are women who play other social roles besides work. For this reason, satisfaction with their work patterns including input into work schedules, has a particularly significant impact on considering the idea of quitting their job. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in 2008-2011 in 8 out of 10 higher education institutions which train nurses. Data obtained from 1045 questionnaires collected from a total of 1049 respondents from 3 randomly selected higher education institutions was used in this research paper. The relationship between the qualitative features and dichotomus quality features under examination was assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: The results of the univariate logistic regression indicate that the risk of quitting increases to the highest extent with a mixed work pattern; it is lower for 12/24 h, and slightly lower for 2 day/night shifts. CONCLUSIONS: A pattern with a single day shift was adopted as the reference level to reduce the risk of Polish nurses' quitting their job. Med Pr. 2018;70(2):145-53.

ADVERSE DRUG REPORTING IN COMMUNITY PHARMACY PRACTICE IN THE POMERANIAN DISTRICT IN POLAND.

The changing role of the modern pharmacies involves reporting adverse drug reactions (ADR's). The aim of the study is to investigate the knowledge of community pharmacy professional staff (PS) about the new pharmacovigilance (PG) legislation and to analyze patients' attitudes towards the community pharmacy role in PG across north central region in Poland. Research material was collected in a group of pharmacy PS and patients from January 2014 to August 2014 in the Pomeranian District. A cross-sectional study was conducted. The research project consisted of three single anonymous surveys. Main outcome measure was knowledge of PS towards ADRs reporting, attitudes of patients towards ADRs in relation to PS in a community pharmacy. Over half of surveyed pharmacists (54.7%) and only 13% of pharmaceutical technicians know the correct and current definition of ADR. PS do not know what kind of ADRs should be reported - only 41% of pharmacists and 12.1% of technicians presented adequate knowledge. As far as the knowledge of where to notify is concerned - it was present in 60.7% of pharmacists and only 11.2% of pharmaceutical technicians. In most cases pharmacists (72%) know that patients can make their own notifications, technicians showed such knowledge only in 37.4% of cases. Patients who detect an ADR occurrence often do not transmit the information (19% of respondents). However, if they decide to report, they mostly talk to physicians (76.6%), and, less frequently (14.6%), to pharmacy PS. In the opinion of patients, however, the pharmacy PS (20.3%) are identified as sub- jects involved in reporting ADRs and those who can transmit information on the ADRs. The results suggest that pharmacists' knowledge of the rules of reporting ADRs is superior to that of pharmaceutical technicians. In fact, PS are not sufficiently prepared for reporting ADRs. Patients, in turn, do not have adequate awareness of reporting the observed ADRs. They, however, associate the community pharmacy with PG system, although the extent is unsatisfactory. In this regard, a more effective training of PS would be recommended along with tailored social campaigns to inform about the PG system in Poland.

[Medical doctors as the state presidents and prime ministers--a biographical analysis]. / Lekarze w roll prezydentów i premierów--analiza biograficzna.

The authors overviewed the biographies of 29 medical doctors who became the heads of the state or the prime ministers of their countries. Most of them ruled in a countries of fresh or unstable democracies, most often in Asia, Africa and Latin America, three of them were bloody dictators. With the exemptions of Georges Clemenceau and Sun-Yat-Sen they were not famous as historical figures, although some were good administrators like the prime minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Malayan prime minister Mahatir bin Mohamad, Brasilian and Chilean presidents, Juscelino Kubitschek and Veronica Bachelet. Regarding specialisation was mostly general medics or they specialised in public health.

Sexual behavior and contraception among young Polish women.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze sexual behavior and the use of contraception among young women in Poland. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. POPULATION: 1,478 young women in higher (78.9%) and secondary (21.1%) education. SETTING: Gdansk region in Poland. METHODS: The data were gathered between September and December 2008 by the use of a questionnaire prepared for the purpose of this study, completed anonymously and in person by the young women. RESULTS: Sexual activity had been initiated by 67.2% of the women studied at a mean age of 18.7 years (±1.97). Assessment was made of changes in their contraceptive practice between the time of sexual initiation and later sexual activity. Since their first experience of intercourse 67.0% did not change their contraceptive methods. As many as 40.1% continued using either low effective methods or no contraception. Early sexual initiation was linked to a significantly lower likelihood of highly effective contraception, more frequent unprotected sexual intercourse and more sexual partners (p < 0.05). Over half of women assigned to a 'high-risk' group with regard to the chance of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection, declared that their behavior did not carry any risk, similar (p > 0.05) to those who did not have a history of hazardous behavior. CONCLUSION: Sexual behavior differentiates Polish women from the women in Western Europe. Despite the welcome tendency toward choosing reliable contraceptives, use of appropriate contraception is still insufficient.

[What nurses with a bachelor of nursing degree know about the classification of arterial blood pressure and sequellae of arterial hypertension]. / Wiedza licencjatów pielegniarstwa na temat klasyfikacji wartosci cisnienia tetniczego krwi oraz nastiepstw nadcisnienia tetniczego.

INTRODUCTION: Arterial hypertension is among the most important risk factors of atherosclerosis and associated cardiovascular pathology with a prevalence rate estimated at 20-30% of the adult population. Nowadays, it is recommended to perform an individual assessment of cardiovascular risk in a patient and to determine the threshold value for arterial hypertension, even though blood pressure classification values according to the European Society of Hypertension and the European Society of Cardiology (ESH/ESC), as well as the Polish Society of Hypertension (PTNT) have remained unchanged. AIM OF STUDY: To determine what nurses with a Bachelor of Nursing degree know about the prevalence and classification of arterial blood pressure, as well as sequellae of arterial hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was done in 116 qualified nurses (112 females, 4 males; age 21-50; seniority 0-29 years). The research period was from June 2007 to January 2008. The research tool was a questionnaire devised by the authors. RESULTS: We found that half (on the average) of those questioned have an up-to-date knowledge regarding classification of blood pressure and prevalence of arterial hypertension but just one out of three respondents (on the average) was able to describe its sequellae. Relatively less known among nurses with a Bachelor of Nursing degree were aspects of "white coat hypertension". Statistically significant differences regarding correct answers were noted depending on seniority (p = 0.002), place of work p < 0.001), or position (p < 0.001). There were no differences depending on age, place of residence, marital status, or form of postgraduate education of nurses with a Bachelor of Nursing degree. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to improve knowledge among students of nursing (BN degree) about current classification of blood pressure, as well as prevalence of arterial hypertension and its sequellae.