Aim: The study was conducted with the aim of determining views and suggestions for improving the nursing care plan used in the clinics of a university hospital.

Material and Methods: The research design was mixed method using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The sample of the study consisted of 226 nurses working with the care plan in a university hospital. Focus group discussions were conducted with three different groups in the qualitative dimension of the study. In the quantitative dimension, questionnaire forms created in line with the focus group interviews and the literature were applied to the nurses working with the care plan. Content analysis was used for the evaluation of qualitative data whilst descriptive statistical methods (number, percentage) were employed for the analysis of quantitative data.

Results: In the qualitative part of the research, the nurses particpating in the focus group discussions stated that working with a nursing care plan was generally beneficial, but reported that the use of care plan could not be done efficiently due to many factors. In the quantitative part of the research, 70.8% of participants reported that the care plans were not used effectively in the clinics they worked.

Conclusion: It was found that nurses failed to use nursing care plans effectively at the university hospital where the study was conducted and this was caused by many factors. In order to ensure the use of an effective, target-oriented and individualized care plan, it would be beneficial to eliminate negative institutional factors and consider the nurses' suggestions for improvement.