Quality of life (QOL) is an important issue that should be addressed by nurses in all areas of practice. One patient population for whom this is important is patients who have cardiac valve replacement surgery. Research has shown that patients over 70 who have prosthetic valve implantation have an improved QOL. However, no research has been done on the QOL for children or women of childbearing age. This deficit in nursing research must be addressed in order for patients to have access to the information they deserve before making the decision to pursue surgical treatment. Medical research has shown that women of childbearing age face numerous complications that may render them functionally infertile, and mental health research has shown that infertility can greatly affect a woman's psychological state. The purpose of this thesis was to analyze and synthesize recent research for QOL in these populations. Implications for nursing practice, education and research were also addressed.