The Relentless School Nurse: Together, We Uphold Nursing’s Future

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) has added its voice to the growing unified voice of national nursing organizations strongly objecting to the U.S. Department of Education’s (USDOE) proposed changes to the definition of “professional degree” programs. This proposal, which excludes nursing from professional degree status and imposes restrictive loan limits of $20,500 annually and $100,000 total—far below limits for physicians or lawyers—threatens the educational pathways essential to producing and sustaining a qualified nursing workforce across all specialties. NASN stands alongside the American Nurses Association (ANA), the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), and others in calling for recognition of the complexity, rigor, and vital importance of advanced nursing education to the nation’s health and well-being​

A Defining Stand on Professionalism

NASN declares unequivocally: 

• You are professionals. 

• Your preparation is professional. 

• Your work in schools demands and deserves recognition as such. 

• NASN will not allow federal policy to diminish this profession or limit future pathways into it. 

This resonates deeply in my daily practice, coordinating care for complex student needs with clinical judgment honed by advanced degrees. The implications go beyond finances—they undermine our professional stature, equipping us with public health expertise and systems leadership essential for school environments, while risking shortages when schools need us most. ​

Strategic Advocacy in Motion

NASN joins forces for joint comments to USDOE, timely updates, advocacy resources, and VoterVoice mobilization to amplify school nurse stories in Congress. Their school-health focus elevates our voice nationally, aligning with calls from ANA and AACN to recognize nursing’s critical role. Personally, as a NASN leader and advocate, I see this as a pivotal call to protect pathways that sustain our profession. ​

Our Role: Informed and Vocal

Stay engaged with rulemaking updates and share how advanced education powers your impact—from public health strategies to crisis leadership. NASN won’t let policy diminish us; neither should we. Unified action safeguards student health and our professional future, recognizing ourselves as indispensable to the nation’s well-being.​

The public comment period for the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed rule on graduate and professional student loan changes has not yet opened as of December 2, 2025. The Department concluded negotiated rulemaking in early November 2025 and plans to publish the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register in early 2026, followed by a 30-day public comment period. The final rule targets implementation on July 1, 2026, affecting new borrowers only. Nursing organizations urge contacting Congress now; monitor regulations.gov or ED.gov for the NPRM date and comment window.​

Together, We Uphold Nursing’s Future

The path ahead for nursing as a whole is clear: Our professional identity, advanced preparation, and indispensable role across all specialties must be protected and elevated. As nursing organizations like NASN lead the charge against policies that threaten to diminish nursing’s standing and restrict access to graduate education, it is our collective responsibility to raise our voices, unite across specialties, and demand recognition from policymakers. This moment calls for shared resolve and unwavering advocacy—to ensure every nurse can continue to provide extraordinary care grounded in the respect and support the profession has earned. The health of our communities and the strength of our workforce depend on our united action. Together, we stand as essential pillars of health and healing.