To evaluate and improve the quality of care provided, it is of vital importance to investigate the quality of care in the context of health care. Patient satisfaction is a significant indicator of the quality of care. Consequently, quality work includes investigations that map out patient satisfaction with nursing care. To improve the quality of nursing care, the nurse needs to know what factors influence patient satisfaction. The aim of this literature study was to describe the influences on patient satisfaction with regard to nursing care in the context of health care. In the description of nursing care, we have used Henderson's nursing care model. The results describe eight domains that have an influence on patient satisfaction with nursing care: the socio-demographic background of the patients, patients' expectations regarding nursing care, the physical environment, communication and information, participation and involvement, interpersonal relations between nurse and patient, nurses' medical-technical competence, and the influence of the health care organization on both patients and nurses. The bulk of the literature included in the study came from the UK, Sweden and the USA. This means that the results should be applicable to health care in the western world. An important implication for future research is to continue to elucidate the factors that influence satisfaction with nursing care, as seen from the patient's perspective.