Important aspects of nursing care in surgical wards as expressed by nurses

• The aim of this study was to find out clinical nurses' perceptions of important aspects of nursing care that might have an impact on quality of care in surgical wards. • A qualitative approach using focus group interviews was used. • The data analysis revealed 15 categories of important aspects of care which could be condensed into two dimensions, here called `prerequisites' (i.e. staffing, routines and attitudes) and `elements of performance' (i.e. detecting and acting on signs and symptoms and acting on behalf of the patients). These aspects could be a starting point for developing quality indicators. • Carper's four fundamental patterns of knowing were used to make a theoretical interpretation, and three of them were identified.