The most senior nurses and midwives in all National Health Service (NHS) trusts in the UK were surveyed to establish what computer networks are in use by nurses, what clinical systems and network services are available on these networks, and what training and policies on networks are in place. The potential for networks to enhance and assist nurses in patient care was explored by asking the respondents to rank the possible uses of networks. Qualitative data were collected, and the nurses were asked to comment on network access and possible uses of these networks.