AIMS: to describe powerlessness on postoperative cardiac surgery patients according to frequency, intensity, defining characteristics and to compare powerlessness between valvular surgery patients (VAL) and coronary artery bypass surgery patients (CAB). METHODS: powerlessness was defined through the analyses of interviews of 75 patients (60% VAL and 40% CAB). RESULTS: 58.7% patients presented powerlessness. There were not differences according to powerlessness frequency (p=0.84) and intensity (p=0.73) between VAL and CAB patients. The defining characteristics most frequent on powerless patients were: "verbal expressions of having no control or influence over situation" (77.3%), "doubts regarding planning future and stating objectives" (75%), "expressions of doubt regarding role performance" (63.6%), and "expressions of dissatisfaction and frustration over inability to perform previous tasks and /or activities" (56.8%).
Powerlessness; Nursing diagnosis; Nursing care; Cardiac surgery
