A study assessed the impact of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Vocational Education's practical nurse program for funding years 1979-1980 (38 programs), 1980-1981 (40 programs), and 1981-1982 (41 programs). Researchers reviewed literature pertaining to the state of the art of health care both in Pennsylvania and across the Nation. Next, they administered questionnaires to 97 state- and school-level administrators of health occupations education programs, 1,082 practical nurse (PN) graduates, and 201 health care employers. On-site interviews were conducted with PN program coordinators, administrators, and graduates in each of the six regions of the State. Graduates of the State's PN programs during the three years studied averaged a 96 percent success rate as first-time takers of the national licensure examination, thus surpassing the national average of 90 to 92 percent. Seventeen recommendations were set forth concerning the delivery, monitoring, and funding of PN programs as well as the design and implementation of further program-related research. (Included in the 17 appendixes to this report are the various instruments used in the study, descriptive materials regarding two Pennsylvania PN programs, rules and regulations of the State Board of Nurse Examiners for Practical Nurses, and PN program graduates' advice to persons interested in enrolling in a PN program.) (MN)