Policy Watch: Support for Nursing as a Professional Degree

Support for Nursing as a Professional Degree is gaining steam from the Hill and internationally, including:

• Representative Ann Wagner (R-MO-02) released a statement that she “strongly disagree[s] with the Department of Education’s recent changes classifying graduate nursing degrees on a lower footing than other medical degrees and will be making it clear to the Administration that these changes are unacceptable and should be immediately reversed.”
• Representative Michael V. Lawler (R-NY-17) sent a letter to Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon encouraging the Department to “to maintain a wider definition of ‘professional degree’ to “include programs such as nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and more.”
• Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) gave a speech on the floor of Congress highlighting the Department of Education’s failure to classify post-baccalaureate nursing programs as professional programs while the nation “is experiencing a nursing shortage.”
• The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) issued a statement in support of nursing as a professional degree. “CASN stands united with our U.S. colleagues and global partners in urging immediate action to review this position.”

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