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Policy Watch: Actions to Take: Nursing as a Professional Degree

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Policy & Advocacy

AACN Policy WatchOnly 20 Days Left to Submit Comments to the Department of Education!

AACN continues to lead response efforts to the Department of Education’s (ED) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which does not include post-baccalaureate nursing programs as professional degrees.

We need your help! Please:

  • Submit Comments: Send comments to ED through AACN’s Action Center. We encourage you to choose from the three tailored comments below and personalize your message.
  • 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. This letter is being led by Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), House Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), and House Nursing Caucus Vice Co-Chair and nurse, Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02). Please send your message today.
     
  • Learn More: 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.

Thank you to the more than 400 AACN Advocates who have already submitted their comments to the Department. Let’s keep the momentum going as we near the March 2 deadline.

Grant Opportunities for Nurses and Institutes of Higher Education

  • Now Open: Apply for Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Today! If you are a licensed registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, or nurse faculty with qualifying debt, and work full-time in a critical shortage facility, you may qualify for the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (LRP). The LRP is accepting applications through 7:30 p.m. (ET) on March 12. Click here to learn more.
  • Nursing Home Staffing Campaign: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for their Nursing Home Staffing Campaign. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education as well as non-profits. CMS expects to award $80,000,000 across roughly 15 awardee organizations to help recruit nurses to work in nursing homes. Click here for more details.

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