In a study to describe technical (associate degree) and professional (bacalaureate) nursing as practiced in clinical settings by staff nurses and to determine whether differences are noted by directors of nursing and head nurses, 24 associate degree and 24 baccalaureate staff nurses were observed and interviewed and 12 directors of nursing and 22 head nurses were interviewed in 12 hospitals in the San Francisco Bay area in which graduates of both programs are employed. Differences between technical and professional practice were identified in areas of problem-solving and decision-making, in the scope of practice, and in attitudes toward practice. Actions and attitudes of associate degree graduates were found to be consistet with technical nursing practice. Actions of these nurses had predictable outcomes; the nursing problems and interventions were physiological and physical. Baccalaureate graduates were found to practice professional nursing, to consider patients' psychological and social needs. Bases for practice of six of the 24 baccalaureate graduates extended beyond standardized approaches; the nurses were self-directed and willing to take a chance. Interviews with directors of nursing supported differences in practice, but head nurses, while reporting differences, cited examples not entirely supportive of their original statements.