NEEDS IN NURSING EDUCATION ARE OUTLINED IN 5 IMPERATIVES--(1) AN IMMEDIATE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING (BECAUSE OF UP TO 50 PERCENT VACANCIES IN NURSING POSITIONS IN SOME HOSPITALS, USE OF SUBPROFESSIONALS EXCEEDING THE SAFETY LEVEL, AND EXTREME SHORTAGE OF NURSES FOR POSITIONS OF HIGHEST RESPONSIBILITY, AND FUTURE OVERTAXING OF THE SUPPLY DUE TO NEW HEALTH PROGRAMS, BURGEONING POPULATION, INCREASING LONGEVITY, ETC.), (2) A NEED FOR STATEWIDE PLANNING DONE BY A COMMITTEE ON COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING FOR NURSING EDUCATION APPOINTED BY (IDEALLY) THE STATE'S COORDINATING BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION, (3) PLANNING FOUNDED ON A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF EXISTING CONDITIONS AND FUTURE TRENDS IN NURSING, (INCLUDING MOVING AWAY FROM "PROCEDURES-CENTERED NURSING" IN WHICH SERVICES ARE BROUGHT TO PATIENTS FROM AN ASSEMBLY LINE WHILE NURSES ARE OVERLY ENGAGED IN PAPER WORK AND PATIENTS ARE CARED FOR BY AIDES), IN HIGHER EDUCATION, AND IN OTHER SERVICES AND PROFESSIONS, (5) PLANS ORIENTED TOWARDS PRODUCING PROMPT ACTION AND MEANINGFUL CHANGES (INCLUDING EXPLICIT STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE). AN EXTENDED SECTION ON PLANNING, INCLUDING GOAL SETTING, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EVALUATION IS INCLUDED. (AF)