Topicality. In the light of the active discussion of the implementation of the Bologna system in Russia and the further development of the national system of higher education, it seems relevant to analyze the only representatives of this system within the framework of higher medical education, namely, the bachelor's and master's programs of higher nursing education for their regulatory and legal regulation. The work purpose is to improve the legal regulation of higher nursing education, as well as the licensing system of healthcare in terms of allowing individuals to carry out medical activities in the field of nursing. Materials and methods. The provisions of the current and draft regulatory legal acts that make up the system of higher education, as well as the licensing system of health care, are analyzed. Results. The future structure of higher nursing education is shown, which will receive minor editorial changes. Proposed: the author's version of the section "Level of professional education" in the draft qualification requirements for medical and pharmaceutical workers in the specialty "Management of nursing"; introduction of a condition for admission to the master's program in nursing management in the presence of higher nursing education at the bachelor's level. Conclusion. In order to progressively develop the national system of higher education in terms of higher nursing education and the professional implementation of bachelor's and master's degree graduates of higher nursing education, proposals were made to improve federal state educational standards of higher education, as well as qualification requirements for medical and pharmaceutical workers, designed to ensure the continuity of undergraduate and graduate programs in the system of higher nursing education, and the quality of medical education.