NLN Opposes Department of Education Decision Not to Classify Nursing as a Professional Degree

NLN Opposes Department of Education Decision Not to Classify Nursing as a Professional Degree

Decision Harms Nursing Students’ Ability to Obtain Higher Graduate Student Loan Amounts They May Need to Complete Their Education

Washington, DC — The National League for Nursing opposes the U.S. Department of Education’s decision not to classify nursing as a professional degree. This action would deny nursing students the opportunity to obtain higher graduate student loan amounts they may need to complete their education, and it would also do nothing to address the nation’s nursing shortage. Indeed, it could make it worse by making nursing a less attractive career path.

The department’s decision to not include graduate nursing as a professional degree will have significant impact on the ability of nurses to advance their education to become advanced practice nurses and scientists. Additionally, national standards require nursing program directors to hold doctoral degrees and faculty to possess graduate-level nursing education. 

Doctoral programs can take 3-5 years to complete. Additionally, students need funds to support expensive textbooks, simulation lab fees, course and online learning fees, and more. The expenses add up quickly and can be quite costly.

Nursing schools and programs are already unable to admit thousands of qualified applicants because they lack sufficient faculty. Undermining the professional degree designation will only intensify this crisis and further diminish the nation’s supply of doctorally-prepared faculty, researchers and scientists.

Given the department’s decision, the National League for Nursing now calls on Congress to introduce corrective legislation to reverse it. We also call on all nurses and nurse educators to act now and contact their congressional representative and senators to oppose this decision.

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