We are out here, still rearing our families: some thoughts on education and certification

Establishing credentials in nursing is the subject of intense controversy and research. Decisions regarding advanced education pose more complex problems for some nurses than for others. Social changes tempt many to take for granted today's freedom of choice in life style, but persons still in very responsible and productive periods of their lives grew up in a different time. Life styles were formed under the pressures of narrower opportunities for self-esteem and social approval. Many chose to devote themselves to a combination of direct patient care and the long-term commitment of traditional family rearing. They must speak out lest their viewpoint be ignored by others whose pursuits may have gained them more verbal, organizational, and political skills.