Nursing degree loses 'professional' status due to Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'

Regulatory Changes & Funding Cuts - The Trump administration's bill removes nursing from the list of professional degrees, capping student loan borrowing options [1] - This reclassification limits access to funding for nurses, potentially hindering socioeconomic advancement, especially for women and minorities [3] - Federal funding for nursing education, exceeding $300 million, was stripped from the budget (Title 8 funding removal) [9] Impact on Nursing Profession - The change could shrink an already strained nursing workforce, potentially putting patients at risk [1][2] - Advanced practice nurses may be unable to borrow enough for school due to loan caps of $100,000 total and $20,500 per year [6][7] - Over 80,000 qualified applicants were turned away from nursing programs last year, mainly due to a lack of nurse faculty [12] Financial Implications & Loan Repayment - Advanced practice nursing programs can exceed $100,000 in cost [7] - Private loans, which nurses may turn to, are excluded from federal payback systems like public service loan forgiveness [7][8] - Cuts to Medicaid and subsidies are leading healthcare providers to cut tuition reimbursement for nurses [9] Workforce Conditions & Challenges - Nurses are more likely to be assaulted at work than prison guards or correctional officers [11] - Healthcare professionals, including nurses, report burnout and staff shortages post-COVID [10]