Should nursing become an all graduate profession?

Would you rather have your leg ulcer dressed by a non-graduate, skilled, caring practitioner who knew what she or he was doing, or by a graduate who didn't? I have mixed feelings about recent proposals to make nursing an all graduate profession.

I can find three arguments in favour or introducing compulsory graduate status. First, as the role of nurses has clearly changed over the past 50 years, with nurses now doing more and more tasks previously only undertaken by doctors, a degree could theoretically give (or acknowledge) greater clinical knowledge and expertise. If nurses are being asked to do more, then clearly they should be trained to a higher level, and that training can be recognised at graduate level if appropriate. An improved education may help some have the confidence for the decision-making skills needed to make high-level clinical judgments.