This report consists of chapter 8 (the chapter on nursing) and relevant other sections of the "Seventh Report to the President and Congress on the Status of Health Personnel in the United States, March 1990." It presents and analyzes recent developments in the education, supply, and distribution of nursing personnel; and provides an assessment of the future supply of and requirements for nursing personnel through the year 2020. An executive summary of the full health personnel report is included. In the reprint of chapter 8 from the full report, s section on current developments in nursing education addresses issues in basic nursing education to prepare for registered nurse (RN) licensure, post-RN academic nursing education, costs of educating nursing students, and programs preparing practical nurses. A discussion of current developments in the registered nurse population examines the registered nurse supply, nurse immigrants, geographic distribution of registered nurses, and distribution of nursing personnel within the health care system. Two final sections discuss, respectively, rates of compensation and the outlook for the future. Other relevant sections of the full report that are reprinted here include the introduction, an overview of major personnel developments for all health personnel, and current and emerging health personnel issues. Includes a total of 34 references. (JDD)