This study described the registered nurses (RNs) who do and the RNs who do not pursue a BSN. The constructs of motivational orientations, Locus-of-Control, and perceived educational barriers guided the study. The subjects consisted of 102 RNs who lived/worked in the same geographical region. Fifty-three of the subjects were enrolled in a BSN program and included three male students. Forty-nine of the subjects were not enrolled. On average the RNs pursuing a BSN were younger, employed fewer years, and a slightly lower percentage held management positions than the RNs not pursuing a BSN. A pilot study aided in the design of the questionnaire for this study which consisted of four parts; the modified 48-item Education Participation Scale, the modified Reid-Ware Three-factor Locus-of-Control instrument, a modified barriers-to-education section, and a personal profile questionnaire. Follow-up interviews were conducted individually with four randomly selected RNs from each group. RNs pursuing a BSN identified barriers to education that were program or school related. In contrast, RNs not pursuing a BSN identified barriers to education that were personal i.e., cost. Both groups identified "time required to complete the program" as one of the three most notable barriers. RNs pursuing a BSN do so for Professional Advancement and Self-esteem. RNs pursuing a BSN indicated they had more control in their successes or failures and in the school and work setting than did RNs not pursuing a BSN. Motivational orientations (Professional Advancement and Self-esteem) and Internal Locus-of-Control (Social-System and Fatalism) were correlated with group membership of RNs pursuing a BSN. External Locus-of-Control Fatalism and age were correlated with group membership of RNs not pursuing a BSN. Recommendations included further research and a RN-BSN program to reduce identified barriers under the control of the educational system. / Ed. D.