Technology is enhancing the ability of distance education to reach both aspiring nursing students and professional nurses who want to advance their skills. Distance education also improves access to education and, in doing so, counters the nation's increasing shortage of nurses. It allows nurses to continue to work while enrolling in online courses. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has recently established a Task Fore on Distance Technology and Nursing Education to address some of the issues schools face in establishing distance education programs. Resources, cost of innovation, faculty training, and ownership of intellectual property are key issues. Distance education changes relationships and enhances enrollment in nursing programs. Various technological options exist for distance education programs. Other issues include quality and standards, partnerships among faculty, training, and costs of setup and technical assistance. (HB)