THE RELATIVELY UNCHANGING FACTORS UNDERLYING NURSING AND ITS PRACTICE ARE PRESENTED AND APPLIED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULUMS FOR THE EDUCATION OF PRACTICAL NURSES. THE GUIDE FOR DEVELOPING CURRICULUMS WAS PREPARED BY A REGISTERED NURSE IN COOPERATION WITH SEVERAL GROUPS AND MANY INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING TWO PROGRAM SPECIALISTS OF THE PRACTICAL NURSE EDUCATION SECTION OF THE U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PRACTICAL NURSE EDUCATION. SOME OF THE TOPICS ARE -- (1) THE ART OF NURSING, (2) THE ROLES OF THE PRACTICAL NURSE IN NURSING PATIENTS, (3) GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EDUCATION FOR NURSING PRACTICE, (4) ELEMENTS OF NURSING THAT CONDITION NURSING EDUCATION, (5) QUALIFICATIONS OF THOSE WHO DESIRE TO BECOME PRACTICAL NURSES, (6) GUIDING AND TEACHING STUDENT PRACTICAL NURSES, (7) NURSING SITUATIONS, (8) DESIGNING A CURRICULUM, (9) CURRICULA FOR THE EDUCATION OF PRACTICAL NURSES, AND (10) DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREAS OF LEARNING OF THE CURRICULUM. SELECTED READINGS AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE INCLUDED. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE AS GPO NUMBER FS 5.285--85004 FOR 60 CENTS FROM SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20402. (PS)