In the autumn of 1983, a study was conducted of the needs of county public health unit (CPHU) nurses in Florida for additional training in health education. Questionnaires were developed and mailed to 136 persons, with a return rate of 68 percent. Most of the respondents were white female registered nurses with a mean age of 44 years, who were graduates of three year nursing programs or community colleges. Data were collected and analyzed to yield the following conclusions: (1) health education risk reduction skills training was needed; (2) a training plan needed to be developed to include patient counseling skills, small group instruction techniques, diabetes education, nutrition education, maternal health risk reduction, child abuse, and interpersonal communication techniques; (3) district-wide conferences should be organized on domestic violence and physical fitness, nutrition, and health; and (4) health education methods training should precede other health education-risk reduction training when possible. Using these results, a training plan was developed and implemented at five training sites. Six training courses and four special interest courses were developed and taught by guest instructors at several training sites. Most of the CPHU nurses have received training, and most have rated the courses as very helpful. Changes in attitude and the application of learned skills were to be measured by the re-administration of the survey in March 1985. (KC)