Objective: To determine the effect of nurse-led program based on Pender's Health Promotion Model on the exercise behaviors of coronary artery patients. Methods: The two-arm parallel, single-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted with a total of 62 patients, intervention (n = 32) and control group (n = 30). Intervention group received a nurse-led program based on Pender's Health Promotion Model and routine follow-ups of control group continued. The health perception, perceived exercise self efficacy, perceived exercise benefits/barriers, exercise related effect, exercise frequency and time were assessed at baseline, 4th, 8th and 12th weeks. The data were evaluated by frequency, percentage, median, mean and standard deviation, chi-square, Friedman and Mann Whitney U tests. Results: Health perception (62.6 +/- 9.5; median:67.0; p < 0.001), perceived exercise benefit (105.8 +/- 7.4; median:107.0; p < 0.001), perceived exercise self efficacy (71.2 +/- 5.4; median: 71.5; p < 0.05), exercise related effect (31.6 +/- 6.0; median:34.0; p < 0.05), exercise frequency (4.8 +/- 2.2; median:6.0 days/week; p < 0.05) and time (105.9 +/- 53.6; median:130.0 min/week; p < 0.05) were higher and perceived barriers (43.1 +/- 3.9; median: 42.0; p < 0.001) were lower in the intervention group at 12th week. Conclusions: The nurse-led program has been shown to increase the exercise behavior in the intervention group. Practice Implications: Since it enables patients to gain and maintain exercise, it is highlighted the model to be integrated into clinical practice. (c) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.