As directed by the Florida State Legislature, the Postsecondary Education Commission examined Florida's needs in the area of nursing education. Following the executive summary, the introduction reviews the commission charge and activities. Major topics addressed include: the nursing profession (introduction, history, licensure, careers, and employment sites and salary structure); nursing education (nursing education history in the United States, accreditation, educational preparation and programs, male and minority representation, curricula, and articulation and career ladders); nursing programs in Florida (licensed practical nursing, registered nursing, graduate programs, minority representation); nursing manpower (national outlook and Florida outlook); and issues and recommendations (Florida nursing manpower needs, articulation and the career ladder, financial assistance, entry to practice, and minority representation). Among the 23 recommendations are the following: (1) at the undergraduate level in registered nursing (RN) education, the state should give priority to existing RN programs; (2) with the smaller pool of qualified applicants to nursing programs, caution should be exercised in selecting students in order to avoid raising students' expectations and investments in a course of study they may not be able to complete; and (3) to attract qualified individuals, colleges and universities should focus on developing alternative programs that provide quality preparation for registered nurse licensure. Three appendices list approved nursing programs in Florida, Florida Board of Nursing rules, and state and federal financial aid programs. 65 tables. (SM)