Objective To investigate the surgical patients' needs of community nursing services and actual utilization within one week of out hospital. Methods Sampled 257 adults surgical patients from certain general hospital, interviewed them by self-designed queostionnair to know their needs of community nursing services and actual utilization within one week after out of hospital. Results There were 96% pa-tients required community nursing services at the point of discharge. The content of services needs included dise ases cares, health teaching and prevention services. Different moded of community nursing cares were required. The actual utilization rate within one week was 16.5%, there were 54.5% and 63.6% of patients received wound care and medication administration separately, which were mainly provided by center visit. Conclusions There is a contradiction between the needs and actual utilization of com-munity nursing services. It is meaningful to enhance the utilization rate, extend the content and perfect the modes of community nursing services so as to satisfy discharged surgical patients' needs.