In Poland, the first academic education centres established in 1921 in Poznan and Warsaw, in 1925 in Krakow. Nurses: Ita Rosa Mc Donell (1891–1977) and Helen Bridge (1885–1964) were the directors of the first two. They were representatives of the American Red Cross (ARC). The process of education of Polish nurses and midwives was slowed by the outbreak of the Second World War. The post‑war period was characterized by low level of professional trainings, diversity of programs and duration of studies. The result of these actions was disqualification of nurses and midwives in the further process of higher education. In 1969 was established 3 year College of Nursing in the Medical Academy in Lublin. In 1972 the College was transformed into a 4 years Faculty of Nursing. Many years later, in 1996, started one step master midwives education system. It was also in the structures of the Faculty of Nursing at the Medical Academy in Lublin. At the end of 1990s, in accordance with the guidelines of the Bologna Process in Poland, began an intensive implementation of the higher education process: 3 years for a bachelor’s degree, 2 years for a master’s degree, and 3–4 years for a doctoral degree.

Key words: higher education, studies nursing, studies midwives.