Nursing: A Profession Worth Fighting For

Imagine you love helping people feel better—so you decide to become a nurse. You study hard, learn biology, anatomy, patient care, and everything in between. Then you’re told: “Sorry, your degree isn’t considered a professional degree anymore.” That’s what’s happening now, and it’s raising big worries.

What the U.S. Department of Education Says

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) under the Donald J. Trump administration has introduced a change in how it defines “professional degree” programs. The change was made as part of a large bill in Congress (called the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” in media reports) that aims to rethink federal student loan rules. cwrtnyc.org+3Newsweek+3Nurse.org+3

• The DOE says it must set limits on how much students can borrow, especially in graduate or professional programs. Nurse.com+1

• Under the new definition, certain fields such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, law, veterinary medicine, and podiatry are clearly listed as “professional degree” programs. Notably, nursing (including advanced practice nursing) is not included. Newsweek+2AACN+2

• As a result, nursing students pursuing master’s, doctoral, or advanced practice nursing degrees may face lower borrowing limits and fewer financial aid opportunities compared to students in other fields recognized as “professional”. Nurse.com+1

• From the DOE’s perspective, this is meant to align definitions with legacy rules and to curb rising student loan debt and tuition in so-called professional programs. Newsweek

What Nurses, Educators, and Nursing Organizations Say

On the other side, many nurses, nursing educators, and organizations like the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) are sounding alarms.

• These groups argue that excluding nursing from the “professional degree” label undermines the profession’s value and the hard work of nurses. For example, the AACN says that “excluding nursing from the definition of professional degree programs disregards decades of progress toward parity across the health professions.” AACN

• The ANA states that at a time when the U.S. faces a historic nursing shortage, limiting access to advanced nursing education “threatens the very foundation of patient care.” Newsweek

• They also warn that fewer nurses might pursue advanced degrees, which means fewer nurse educators (so fewer nursing students overall), fewer advanced practice nurses to serve rural and underserved areas, and overall weaker patient care. Nurse.org+1

Why It Matters – Big Gap, Big Consequences

Here are some key disparities and stakes in the debate:

• Financial aid disparity: If nursing is not counted as a professional degree, advanced nursing students may face smaller loan limits (for example, around $20,500 per year vs. $50,000 per year for recognized professional programs). Nurse.com+1

• Workforce shortage: The U.S. already has serious nurse shortages. If fewer nurses can afford advanced training, the shortage could deepen. That means longer wait times for patients, fewer providers in rural areas, and more burnout among existing nurses. Newsweek

• Professional respect and recognition: Nurses argue that the move is insulting and devalues their profession—despite the complex science, leadership, clinical decision-making, and patient-care roles they perform. Nurse.com+1

• Equity concerns: Because nursing is a field with many women, the exclusion could have broader implications for fairness in how professions are valued. Some critics say this reclassification undermines a profession made up largely of women and may reflect inequities. cwrtnyc.org

My Opinion

As a nurse (PMHNP), I believe calling nursing a non-professional degree is disrespectful to the trained, licensed, science-based work we do every day. It erases decades of progress in nursing education and leadership. I also believe that powerful groups like the American Medical Association (AMA) may have a role in pushing this reclassification, because as nurses take on more advanced roles (like independent practice, diagnostics, prescribing), it shifts power away from traditional medical models. While surgery may be reserved for physicians, nurse practitioners and other advanced practice nurses already manage, diagnose, treat, and prescribe in many states (27 as of late 2024 give NPs full practice authority).Removing professional-degree status from nursing may reduce protections, financial support, and professional recognition. If we want a strong healthcare system, especially amid looming workforce shortages, this looks like a step in the wrong direction.

What the Debate Means for Students and Patients

• For students: If you’re thinking of doing a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing, you might face higher costs, fewer loan choices, and maybe even reconsider your path.

• For patients: If fewer nurses are able to advance, there may be fewer educators, fewer nurse leaders, and fewer advanced practice nurses in primary care, mental health, and underserved areas—this could affect access to care.

• For policy: The rules set by the DOE send a message about which fields are recognized as “professional.” Excluding nursing rings alarm bells about how society values different health-care roles.

Questions for Debate

1. Should nursing be defined as a “professional degree”? Why or why not?

2. What happens to patient care if advanced nursing education becomes harder to access?

3. Are financial aid rules a fair way to decide if a field is “professional”?

4. Could this reclassification widen the gap between nursing and medicine in power and recognition?

5. What should nurses (students, educators, practitioners) do to respond?

References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2025, November 7). AACN alarmed over Department of Education’s proposed limitation of student loan access for nursing. https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/all-news/article/aacn-alarmed-over-department-of-educations-proposed-limitation-of-student-loan-access-for-nursing AACN

Brusie, C. (2025, November 20). Nursing excluded as ‘professional’ degree by Department of Education. Nurse.org. https://www.nurse.org/news/nursing-excluded-as-professional-degree-dept-of-ed/ Nurse.org

Meeker, Z. (2025, November 21). Nursing no longer classified as a professional degree: What’s at stake? Nurse.com Blog. https://www.nurse.com/blog/nursing-no-longer-classified-as-a-professional-degree-whats-at-stake/ Nurse.com

Wojciechowski, C. (2025, November 21). Educators concerned over proposed nursing categorization changes. NBC Chicago. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/nursing-exclusion-from-professional-degree-list-could-impact-healthcare/3854433/ NBC Chicago

Oliver. (2025, November 23). New bill linked to Donald Trump sparks outrage by excluding nursing as a ‘professional’ degree. CWRTNYC Education. https://www.cwrtnyc.org/new-bill-linked-to-donald-trump-sparks-outrage-by-excluding-nursing-as-a-professional-degree/ cwrtnyc.org

Laws, J. (2025, November 20). Nursing is no longer counted as a ‘professional degree’ by Trump admin. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/nursing-not-professional-degree-trump-admin-11079650 Newsweek