TO GATHER INFORMATION FOR EVALUATION OF THE ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING PROGRAM, THE CLASSES GRADUATING IN 1959 AND 1960 FROM CALIFORNIA JUNIOR COLLEGES WERE STUDIED BY QUESTIONNAIRE. OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THESE CLASSES, 43 PERCENT HAD OTHER EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL, AND 14 PERCENT HAD SOME PREVIOUS TRAINING, BUT 86 PERCENT FELT THIS PROGRAM BEST SUITED TO THEIR NEEDS. OF 216 GRADUATES RESPONDING TO THE LATER SURVEY, 200 WERE EMPLOYED AS NURSES. SEVENTY-ONE FELT INADEQUATELY PREPARED IN CERTAIN PHASES OF THEIR DUTIES, AND SOME FELT THAT EMPLOYERS PUSHED THEM TOO FAST INTO POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHICH THEY WERE UNPREPARED. AFTER 6 MONTHS OF EMPLOYMENT, THESE NURSES WERE RATED EQUAL TO OR ABOVE NURSES OF EQUIVALENT EXPERIENCE IN 80 PERCENT OF THE SKILLS, CHARACTERISTICS, OR ABILITIES RATED TO NURSING EFFECTIVENESS. ONE YEAR AFTER GRADUATION, THIS PERCENTAGE WAS 84. TABLES, DISCUSSION OF DETAILS, AND INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS ARE PRESENTED. (WO)