The purpose of this study was to compare educational needs following open heart surgery assessed by nurses & patients themselves, Data were collected from Nov. 1983 to Jan. 1984 through administration of Questionnaire developed for this study by the researcher. The subjects were 45 patients who experienced open heart surgery and 29 nurses who taking care of these patients in chest surgery ward at Seoul National University Hospital. The Data were analyzed by T-test and One Way ANOVA according to dependent variables. The result were as follows 1. There are significant difference between educational needs, assessed by nurses and patients themselves. (p<0.05) The nurses reported higher score of educational needs than patients. 2. In comparison of content area of educational needs, there was significant difference according to respiratory care, fain, chest tube care and operation including heart function between two groups. But, there was no significant difference in diet, activity, complication, emotional care and medication between two groups. 3. The priorities in content area of educational needs rated by nurses and patients were similar.