Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Nursing Effect, cilt.19, sa.1, ss.128-141, 2026 (Scopus)
Background: It is reported that the fatigue experienced by nurses, especially in the ICU where complex and lifethreatening interventions are performed, will negatively affect patient care results and cause medical errors. Objectives: The study was planned to examine the effects of relaxation exercises applied to intensive care nurses on fatigue levels. Methods: The research was planned as an experimental study, sample of the study included 30 nurses who received relaxation exercises (experimental group) and 30 nurses who did not (control group). The participants were selected by block randomization method from nurses working in the anesthesiology and reanimation intensive care unit of a city hospital. Data were collected using “Nurse Information Form,” “Vital Signs Form” prepared by the researcher and the “Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery Scale (OFER)”. The data were collected between September and November 2022. Vital signs (body temperature, pulse, respiration, and systolic-diastolic blood pressure) were measured by the researcher before and after the eight-week relaxation exercises applied to the experimental group, and OFER scores were evaluated. Measurements were made without any intervention for the control group. The collected data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Significance was evaluated at p0.05). Furthermore, it was determined that both groups exhibited similar values of body temperature and diastolic blood pressure before the intervention and at the end of eight weeks and the pulse rate and systolic blood pressure were significantly lower in favor of the experimental group after eight weeks (p 0.05). Conclusion: Relaxation exercises applied to intensive care nurses for eight weeks; It was observed that the intervention was effective on fatigue level, pulse rate and systolic blood pressure. For this reason it is recommended that nursing managers incorporate short rest breaks into shift scheduling and include rest exercise training in employee support programs.