Essential skills for baccalaureate graduates: perspectives of education and service.

What psychomotor tasks should baccalaureate graduates be able to perform when they arrive on the doorsteps of practice settings? This article describes a research study in which a representative sample of nursing educators and nursing service personnel provide their perceptions in regard to that question. The content offers a clear view of the expectations of both groups, emphasizes the need for dialogue on this topic between educational service, and raises important issues for nursing administrators regarding the role of staff development and the transition of new graduates to the work setting.