Quality indicators are tools to measure the quality of care. Objective:To identify the quality indicators adopted by nursing services of hospitals in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Method:A cross-sectional, non-experimental, descriptive and quantitative approach, performed in seventeen teaching hospitals in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, using a questionnaire answered by the head of the Nursing Service.Results: Only 5.9% of hospital nursing services do not adopt indicators, showing concern for the quality of care. There is a preference for the adoption of care indicators. Conclusion:A culture of adoption and analysis of indicators exists in hospital nursing services and the indicators are related to classical nursing care processes, with less emphasis on the adoption of indicators related to human resource management and user satisfaction.