Data on nurses licensed in Kentucky for 1979-1981 are presented, as part of the Kentucky Nursing Education Project. Information is provided on: licensure status, home state/district/county, employment status, employment state/district/county, field of employment in nursing, position, highest educational level attained, age, sex, marital status, and race. Information on numbers of nurses employed are expressed in full-time equivalent (FTE) form (i.e., two part-time nurses equal one full-time nurse). Licensure data are also presented by district. In addition, an overview is included on Kentucky's population trends, health care facilities, nursing education programs, and nurse licensure process. Major findings include the following: nurse licensure is not synonymous with employment in nursing in Kentucky, the FTE number of active registered nurses (RNs) employed in nursing in Kentucky has increased by about 6 percent since 1979; the RN/population ratio for the state in 1981 was 36 FTE RNs employed per 10,000 population; the major field of employment for both RNS and licensed practical nurses is the hospital; and the percent of RNs reporting the hospital diploma program as their highest level of educational preparation is steadily decreasing. (SW)