National data on nurses and nursing are organized into the following sections: (1) The Nursing Profession and Society, (2) The Structure and Nature of the Nursing Profession, with subsections on nursing in the general hospital and related facilities, nursing in the mental hospital and related facilities, community nursing, occupational health nursing, and other types of nursing services, and (3) Nursing Education. Some conclusions are: (1) The general dissatisfaction on the part of professionals and the public with current supply indicates that an expansion policy should pervade the health services without undue concern for the precision of ratios, (2) There will probably be a serious personnel problem in community health, occupational health, and long-term institutional care, whereas the orientation of the society will make recruitment less difficult for the clinical specialities dealing with acute and dramatic conditions, (3) Upgrading of education for nursing and the consequent personal investment may mean stronger commitment to career goals at least at the higher levels of educational preparation, and (4) Increased specialization seems inevitable. (JK)