PURPOSE: This study was done to compare edema and pain after completing a nurse's daily shift and to examine the effects of self leg massage which was usually used for reducing nurses' lower extremity edema and pain after their shift. METHODS: The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Study subjects wer 81 nurses who took a self leg massage program created by the researcher. Self leg massage was done 15 times during 3 weeks. Data were collected from September 21 to October 31, 2007. The level of lower extremity edema was measured by ankle and calf circumference by a tapeline in cm and the pain score was measured by using a subjective numbering rating scale. Data were analyzed with the SPSS 12.0 program using statistics of repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in pain according to the department. There was a statistically significant difference in lower extremity edema and pain in nurses after their shift and self leg massage. CONCLUSION: Self leg massage was effective for relieving nurses' lower extremity edema and pain. Therefore, it is proposed that standardized self leg massage should be applied as a method for nurses' lower extremity edema and pain.