Introduction: Health Literacy has become an emerging priority in healthcare system. With the growing burden and multiple effect of low health literacy on patient outcomes, nurses should be aware. The study aims to assess the health literacy knowledge and practice among registered nurses of B.P Koirala Institute of health sciences, Dharan, Nepal. It also analyzes the content of nursing curriculum in relevancy to health literacy part.

Methodology: A cross-sectional method was employed among 125 registered nurses of B.P. Koirala Institute of health sciences. Convenience sampling technique was used. For quantitative method, Health Literacy Knowledge and Experience Survey (HLKES-2) was employed to gather data. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analysis was done. For qualitative, focus group discussion and Content analysis of curriculum was done.

Results: Majority of nurses had not heard the term health literacy before. Findings suggest gap in health literacy knowledge and practice among participants, noticeably in the area like teach back strategies. Health literacy knowledge Score ranged from 0 to 11. The median and IQR were 6 and 2 respectively. 25.0% of respondent had scored up to 5, 50.0% of respondent scored less than 6 and 75.0% of respondent scored up to 7. It was found that most nurses had been engaged in health literacy practice occasionally. The health literacy practice score ranged from 0 to 12. The median and IQR were 7 and 3 respectively. 25.0% of respondents had scored up to 5, 50.0% of respondents scored less than 7 and 75.0% of respondent scored up to 8. Analysis demonstrated that health literacy knowledge and practice remains independent of all study variables. Nurses were found using informal ways of assessing patient health literacy like asking directly to patients or using their own understanding. Health literacy has not been explicitly mentioned in curriculum. However, it has been addressed in the form of communication and patient teaching.

Conclusion: Gap was found in health literacy knowledge and practice among nurses. Therefore, integration of health literacy in nursing education to make future nurses competent and continuing education for currently practicing nurses to fill the gap is vital.