Objective: Health professionals' knowledge about health literacy is a critical component to ensure an effective patient-healthcare professional relationship and safe service delivery. Study Design: This study aimed to determine nurses views about health literacy concept and their approach to assess patients health literacy. Method: This descriptive study was conducted with 53 nurses working in inpatients units excluding intensive care units of a small sized university hospital in Turkey. Data was collected with data sheet including questions about socio-demographics, views and health literacy assessment. Results: Almost all of the nurses stated that they had never heard about the concept of health literacy and they did not receive any training on health literacy. Health literacy was commonly defined as the delivery of health education to patients. None of the nurses were assessing patients health literacy levels in clinical practice. Half of nurses opinion was patients health literacy levels have no effect on their care and have no effect on education activities, whereas can affect patients health decisions and self-efficacy. Conclusion: Study showed that nurses understanding of the concept of health literacy and awareness of its effect on nursing practices and patients is limited. Future interventions should focus on improving health literacy understanding and knowledge of nurses in curriculum, continuing education activities.

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