This study examined the development of nursing academic faculty at the college and university level as a profession using restricted data-sets from 1993-2004 of the National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF:93, NSOPF:99 and NSOPF:04). Faculty professionalization is defined within this study through characteristics in academic credentials, faculty workload and employment patterns. The study population consisted primarily of full-time educators working at four-year institutions. Also examined in this study are different levels of professionalization between nursing academic faculty and other academic faculty groups, as well as between nursing educator subgroups. Tenure, rank and institution types were analyzed. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]