In this paper, the authors describe a newly constructed measure of patient satisfaction entitled the Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales (NSNS). A study using the NSNS found that patients 'most liked' the humour that nurses tried to inject into their interactions with patients, but that they were dissatisfied in general with the amount of information given to them by nurses. The sensitivity of the tool in relation to detecting differences between wards, hospitals or groups of patients is emphasised. The authors then discuss how the NSNS package can be used by others to carry out similar comparisons.