A methodology was developed for the systematic analysis of the nursing profession, as part of the Kentucky Nursing Education Project's Nursing Delineation Study. The methodology defined and ranked nursing tasks according to the degree of complexity in order to promote articulation in nursing practice and education and to better utilize the different categories of nursing personnel. A 17-member task force represented the major domains of nursing (administration, clinical, education, and research). The methodology was based on Gilpatrick's "Health Services Mobility Study (HSMS) Method of Task Analysis and Curriculum Design" (1977). The following five steps were undertaken: (1) listing of nursing tasks; (2) defining tasks; (3) scaling each task by type, level of skill, and knowledge required; (4) task list review/revision by external consultants; and (5) additional task rankings and grouping of tasks, weighting of skill or knowledge area, and developing job descriptions and educational objectives corresponding to task data for each level of practice. Appendices include: skill and knowledge scales with descriptors, knowledge classification system, standard forms, and a glossary of terms used in task descriptions. Project staff and areas of expertise are also identified. (SW)