[What kind of science is required by nursing?]

This article represents a slightly modified paper presented at the symposium on Nursing Science held by the University of Basel in December 1998. It involves a topic analysis of the requirements for nursing science of a nursing service of a University Hospital. On the basis of this analysis a possible identity of Nursing Science is derived. It appears to be compatible both with the ethos and goals of the nursing profession and with the present system of the sciences.