POSITION STATEMENTS OF NURSES' ASSOCIATIONS INDICATED THAT ALL NURSING EDUCATION SHOULD MOVE INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF GENERAL EDUCATION WITH PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS IN COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES AT THE BACCALAUREATE OR HIGHER LEVEL, ALL TECHNICAL PROGRAMS IN JUNIOR OR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AT THE ASSOCIATE DEGREE LEVEL, AND ALL PRESERVICE PROGRAMS IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. MANY PRESENT PROGRAMS WILL BE CLOSED AND NEW ONES ESTABLISHED TO CONFORM TO THE DESIRED PATTERN. GUIDELINES WHICH EVOLVED FROM PHASING OUT THE REGINA SCHOOL OF NURSING AND ESTABLISHING AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBUQUERQUE COULD BE ADOPTED BY OTHER INSTITUTIONS FACING SUCH CHANGE. THE MANUAL SUGGESTS PROCEDURES FOR ESTABLISHING AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM AND EXPLAINS ADAPTATIONS MADE BY THE REGINA SCHOOL OF NURSING AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBUQUERQUE FOR THE FOLLOWING--EXPECTATIONS FOR THE ASSOCIATE DEGREE GRADUATES, OBSTACLES TO ESTABLISHING ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS, INITIAL PLANNING, PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES, EDUCATIONAL AND HEALTH FACILITIES, CONTRACTS, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PUBLICITY, ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY, CURRICULUM, STUDENTS, GRADUATES, AND EVALUATION. A FINAL CHAPTER PRESENTS SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PHASING OUT AN EXISTING PROGRAM. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY, NAMES OF AGENCIES PROVIDING MATERIAL AND INFORMATION, AN EQUIPMENT ESTIMATE FOR THE NUSING ARTS LABORATORY, RECOMMENDED LIBRARY ACCESSIONS, A SAMPLE FORM OF CONTRACT BETWEEN THE HOSPITAL AND THE UNIVERSITY, PUBLIC RELATIONS LETTERS, AND A CURRICULUM PLANNING TOOL ARE INCLUDED. (JK)