By means of a literature review of nursing articles, the authors aim to evaluate the importance of educational programmes before and after cardiac surgery, to assess the advantages and drawbacks of these programmes and to evaluate the need for following-up patients and their carers after being discharged from hospital. Health Education and cardiac surgery: Delivering information following cardiac surgery is an essential task, not only to achieve a behavioural change and the development of patients' self-care attitudes but also to reduce their anxiety. It is also essential to educate family members as they are the most importance source of physical and emotional support following surgery. Issues about in-hospital teaching programmes: Despite the numerous benefits of in-hospital teaching programmes, the actual tendency to shorten hospitalisation length in association with the high levels of anxiety, impede patients and carers' learning. Some studies suggest that these educational programmes have not completely achieved the task of preparing patients and their families to face the early recovery. Education during the early recovery: The authors highlight those studies that have focused on patients and their carers' needs for information following discharge from hospital. Results from these studies show the need for following-up patients and their carers at this period. Educational programmes can extent and reinforce the information provided at hospital.