Purposes: This study was to investigate the frequency of nursing diagnosis and the level of nursing performance for hospitalized elderly. Method: The data were collected with a self-reporting questionnaire from January 16, 2003 to February 7, 2003 and subjects of this study were 235 nurses working with elderly population and having clinical experience over 1 year. Results: In frequency of nursing diagnosis, ‘Impaired urinary elimination’, ‘Self-care deficit’, ‘Impaired skin integrity: pressure sore’ were ranked top 3. ‘Ineffective sexuality patterns’. ‘Risk for imbalanced nutrition:More than body requirements’, ‘Delayed growth and development’ were ranked bottom 3. Nurses reported their performance level were ranked high in nursing diagnosis at ‘Risk for fall’, ‘Impaired skin integrity: pressure sore’ in orderly. Otherwise, ‘Ineffective sexuality patterns’, ‘Sexual dysfunction’, ‘Delayed growth and development’ were ranked low. Three factors were identified as barriers for caring older adults: 1) Lack of knowledge about caring elderly, 2) Limitations in working situation, 3) Poor family support for patient. Conclusion: Nurses perceived physical nursing problems as most frequent nursing diagnosis in hospitalized elderly. Nursing diagnosises which were ranked high in frequency but ranked low in level of nursing performance, must be given priority in in-service education for nurses and undergraduate nursing education for students.