A survey was conducted to analyze the effects of marriage and children on the work patterns of registered nurses in Maryland, with specific attention to these effects on work continuity and advancement and to which factors modify these effects. Questionnaires asking for complete work histories were mailed to a random sample of registered nurses in Maryland. Results indicated that work continuity and advancement were negatively affected by changes in family responsibilities, though less so than in previous years. Over two-thirds of the respondents interrupted their careers while rearing young children. The survey identified several factors which modified the effects of marriage and children on nurses' careers, including educational attainment, age at marriage, and certain background and personal characteristics. The more time and effort nurses had invested in educationally preparing for careers, the more likely they were to overcome the constraints of family responsibilities. (Introductory material discusses women's participation in the labor force, and a number of tables and references support the text.) (LMS)