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Rounds with Leadership:
Strength in Numbers: Support Nursing as a Professional Degree
When the U.S. Department of Education (ED) decided last November to advance a proposed definition that did not include nursing as a professional degree - a move that would significantly limit federal student loan access for post-baccalaureate nursing students - the public response condemning this action was unequivocal and far-reaching.
Individuals and organizations representing nursing, the health professions, and higher education denounced this proposed rule, and the national news media was flooded with stories detailing how this decision would negatively impact the nursing workforce, nursing school enrollments, and access to care. ( Click here to send your comments to the ED.)
AACN has been at the forefront of this national dialogue and has helped to illustrate how identifying nursing as a professional degree is critical to workforce stability and sustaining the nation’s health. Through our efforts focused on advocacy, coalition-building, communication, and data collection, we have illustrated how decreasing federal student loan limits would create a barrier for many nurses seeking to advance their education to the master’s and doctoral levels, a critical step when preparing for careers as advanced practice nurses, faculty, researchers, leaders, and administrators.
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Weekly Digest
On February 23, 2026, The Washington Post published an opinion by Dr. Kymberlee Montgomery from Drexel University and Dr. Mary Ellen Smith Glasgow from Duquesne University titled An Arbitrary Rule Change Is Threatening America’s Health Care System. The article illustrates how the Department of Education’s proposed limits on federal student loans for master’s and doctoral nursing students would diminish access to patient care and decrease enrollment in graduate programs. The authors argue that “restricting federal loan access for this population contradicts the economic purpose of federal lending programs and undermines the nation’s ability to maintain a stable health care workforce.”
In the March/April 2026 Journal of Professional Nursing, Dr. George Zangaro and Dr. Karen Kesten explore 2015-2024 Trends in Nursing Faculty Vacancies Across the United States. Using data extracted from AACN’s annual survey, the authors identified a 10-year average faculty vacancy rate of 7.64% with the highest number of vacancies found in the West and North Atlantic regions. With noncompetitive salaries cited as the top issue, the article explores barriers related to full-time faculty recruitment and hiring. Strategic recommendations are proposed, including investments in better faculty compensation and development.
Visit the AACN website to find more must-read articles of interest to academic nursing leaders. |
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Only 6 Days Left to Submit Comments to the Department of Education!
With only a few days left for stakeholders to respond to the Department of Education’s (ED) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which does not include post-baccalaureate nursing programs as professional degrees, we need your help!
Here are the actions you can take today:
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Submit Comments: Send comments to ED through AACN’s Action Center before the Monday, March 2 deadline. Specifically, we encourage you to choose from the three tailored comments below and personalize your message.
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Email your Members of Congress: Send a message urging your federal policymaker to sign on to a bipartisan, bicameral congressional comment letter supporting the inclusion of nursing as a professional degree in ED’s rulemaking. The deadline for members of Congress to join this letter is this Friday, February 27.
Share these opportunities with all of your networks as we work to have as many personalized comments as possible submitted to ED.
Thank you to the more than 1,900 AACN Advocates who have already submitted their comments to the ED. Let’s keep the momentum going as we approach the
March 2 deadline!
Additional Ways to Support Nursing as a Professional Degree
Are you a member of a state or national association? If so, please share our Nursing and Friends letter with these organizations and have them join more than 150 (and counting!) state and national professional associations in support of nursing as a professional degree.
For more information, visit AACN’s Nursing is a Professional Degree Hub for one-pagers, talking points, and other resources related to this rulemaking process and ongoing response efforts, including from our congressional champions.
Nursing as a Professional Degree in the News
- On February 20, Congresswoman, and nurse practitioner, Sheri Biggs (R-SC-03) issued a press release calling on the Department of Education to include nursing as a professional degree.
- On February 23, Congresswoman and nurse, Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), posted another video encouraging members of the public to submit comments to the Department of Education advocating for nursing as a professional degree.
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Faculty Development Workshop on Student Coaching
and Curriculum Design
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On April 8, AACN will host an online faculty development workshop focused on student coaching and technology-enhanced curriculum design. Unlocking the Power of Simulation - Coach for Competency will explore how to adapt instructional strategies through experiential learning using various forms of simulation in the lab, classroom, and clinical setting. Participants will also learn how to take their coaching and debriefing techniques to the next level. Program sessions include Simulation’s Role in Competency-Based Education; Simulating Success: Scenario Development and Assessment; Coaching Conversations; The Art of Facilitation; Building a Resource Toolbox; and Creating a Learning Oasis: Psychological Safety and Engagement. |
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AACN-TV is partnering with AACN member schools to produce high-quality, story-driven videos that spotlight the innovation, excellence, and impact of nursing education. From faculty and student recruitment to donor engagement, accreditation support, and milestone events, AACN-TV helps institutions elevate their message and stand out on the national stage. Schedule a discovery call to learn how creative, emotive video can amplify your school’s strengths. Click here or the thumbnail to view AACN-TV’s sizzle reel. |
The latest episode of Johnson & Johnson’s See You Now podcast examines the powerful connection between housing and health. In this episode, Lauren Hardin shares how she built a cross-sector model of care that addresses the complex social and human factors shaping health outcomes. This episode offers valuable perspectives for nursing educators and students interested in systems thinking, interprofessional collaboration, and the evolving role of nurses in advancing health equity. Listen to the episode here. |
Share Your News with AACN
AACN members and related stakeholders are encouraged to submit articles of interest, research awards and opportunities, school announcements, new partnerships or grant-funded initiatives, and resources to the AACN for inclusion on the website and in our weekly newsletter.
Submissions must be received by Monday at 12:00 pm (ET) to be considered for that week’s issue. To send your news, please click on the submission link below.
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