Background: Nurses play an important role in clinical stability, adequate hydration, patient comfort and psychological readiness to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a nonsurgical intervention usually performed to manage the narrowed coronary artery branches of the heart. Restoring coronary arteries blood flow to the heart muscle occurs after opening or getting rid of the plaque or stenotic segment in the coronary arteries. PCI is the preferred method of revascularization for most patients with ischemic coronary artery disease (CAD). It included balloon angioplasty, atherectomy, and stent implantation.

Objective: To assess the practices of nurses in the care of patients undergoing angioplasty. to evaluate the practical competencies of nurses in providing pre-procedural and post-procedural care to patients undergoing angioplasty.

Methodology: A cross-sectional, descriptive study. The study Conducted at Azadi Teaching Hospital’s Cardiology Department in Kirkuk, the setting was chosen as a key referral center for percutaneous coronary interventions between the period 20th November 2024 to 1st June 2025. (60) nurses were working in the Cardiology Department participate for the study as sampling method

Results: The result shows nurses’ pre- and post-procedural practices in angioplasty care using a 3-Likert scale across 44 items. Pre-procedural practices showed high adherence in 55% of items, moderate in 25%, and low in 20%, highlighting strengths in vital signs monitoring but deficiencies in patient education. Post-procedural practices were rated high in 45.83% of items, moderate in 33.33%, and low in 20.83%, with strong adherence to wound care but gaps in renal complication monitoring. The overall assessment indicated moderate-to-high competency, emphasizing the need for structured training programs to ensure consistency in nursing practices and improve angioplasty patient outcomes.

Conclusions: The findings reveal strong adherence to critical safety measures in both pre- and post-procedural angioplasty care, but significant gaps remain in patient education and preparation. While nurses demonstrated proficiency in monitoring vital signs and ensuring proper wound care, inconsistencies in educating patients on fasting guidelines, hydration, and follow-up care were observed. Structured training programs and standardized protocols could bridge these gaps, enhancing overall nursing competencies. The moderate-to-high practice levels indicate a solid foundation, but targeted interventions are necessary to optimize patient care. Continuous professional development and simulation-based training can further strengthen nurses’ expertise in angioplasty management.