Abstract Aim Validate the Nursing Intensive‐Care Satisfaction Scale in ICUs throughout Spain. Identify the improvement strategies recommended by the patients and professionals. Design Quantitative psychometric methodology and a cross‐sectional descriptive correlational design. Methods The study population will be all patients discharged from 19 participating ICUs in Spain. Consecutive sampling (n = 564). Once discharged from the ICUs, they will receive the questionnaire and then, after 48 hours it will be given to them again to analyse the temporal stability. To validate the questionnaire, the internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha) and temporal stability (test–retest) will be analysed. Results Improve the quality of nursing care by modifying, changing or strengthening behaviours, skills, attitudes or areas for improvement involved in the process.