Introduction. The knowledge of legal regulations in the nursing profession is of essential importance for people actively performing this job. Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the relation between the level of education and nurses’ knowledge of currently effective legal regulations concerning the nursing profession. Material and methods. The study covered 100 nurses employed in the Voivodeship Specialist Hospital in Radom. 62 respondents had higher education, 23 medium-level education. The mean age of respondents was 37.5 years (min 23, max. 52 years, SD = 6.541). The mean work experience: 17 years. A voluntary and anonymous questionnaire survey study was conducted using a questionnaire of the authors’ own design. Statistical analysis: STATISTICA 10.0, nonparametric Mann-Whitney U Test (p<0.05) Results. No significant influence of the level of education on the knowledge of legal regulations concerning the nursing profession was disclosed in the study group. Nevertheless, statistical significance showing differences between the study groups was found, among others, in questions concerning the date of being awarded the right to perform the profession (p<0.014), the source document regulating professional liability (p<0.044), the scope of bearing professional liability (p<0.034) as well as the body keeping the register of nurses and midwives penalised (p<0.052). Conclusions. 1. The knowledge of legal acts regulating the performance of the nursing profession among nurses is insufficient and requires to be complemented. 2. The overall knowledge of legal acts regulating the performance of the nursing profession was not dependent on the respondents’ level of education though nurses with higher education represented a slightly higher level of knowledge of professional liability. 3. The insufficient knowledge of legal issues concerning the profession practised in the studied group of nurses requires that actions be undertaken to expand this knowledge in the course of various forms of permanent education, pursuant to the principle of life-long education.

Key words: knowledge, nurses, law, legal, civil, professional liability.