On the occasion of National Nurses Day, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) acknowledges the Administration’s recognition of the extraordinary contributions nurses make every day to the health and well-being of our nation’s citizens. At a time of persistent workforce shortages and growing healthcare demands, recognizing the indispensable role nurses play is important, but recognition alone is not enough.

Even though nurses are identified as “professionals” in the first sentence of the presidential message, federal policy does not reflect this. AACN is deeply concerned by the Department of Education’s recent final rule excluding nursing from the federal definition of “professional degree” programs. Released just before National Nurses Week, the rule imposes burdensome new federal loan limits on nursing students beginning July 1, 2026, threatening access to post-baccalaureate nursing education at precisely the moment the nation needs more nurses, nurse educators, nurse scientists, and other highly prepared nursing professionals. Excluding nursing from this designation sends the wrong message to students, institutions, and the healthcare workforce at large.

If the Administration is serious about supporting nurses and addressing the nation’s healthcare workforce challenges, it must ensure that federal policy reflects those priorities. AACN continues to urge the Administration and Congress to protect investments in nursing education, workforce development, and research, including continued support for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research. America’s nurses deserve policies that invest in their education, strengthen the workforce, and support the essential care they provide to patients and communities every day.