Cardiac rehabilitation has been gradually introduced in Taiwan. It is now used to assist patients who have undergone heart surgical operations to improve physiologically and mentally and to facilitate their return to society. Herein is reported our experience caring for a patient who received cardiac rehabilitation after coronary artery bypass surgery. The patient received cardiac rehabilitation instruction, which included training the patient how do safe exercise, strengthening the patient's understanding of the disease and the rehabilitation program, reducing the patient’s fears about the disease and encouraging the patient to actively participate in the cardiac rehabilitation project. Under the supervision of a medical treatment team, an exercise program was implemented to gradually increase the amount of exercise with the goal of allowing the patient to regain their original level of fitness. The nursing goals also sought to reduce risk of infection post-operatively, reduce intolerance towards activity, improve sleep patterns and improve the patient's eating habits. Together, these efforts served to facilitate the patient's return to independent living.