The aim of this study was to evaluate actual levels of nursing care delivered in a functionally aggregated Surgery Area of the Tor Vergata University Hospital in Rome, by measuring nursing workload according to the "Projet de Recherche en Nursing" (PRN87) methodology. The study was performed between February 1st and June 26, 2004. The results of the study have highlighted the fact that nursing staff is often improperly used, for example to perform many administrative activities, thereby reducing the quality and amount of direct nursing care.