11/22/2025
The nursing profession stands as one of the most essential and respected professional degrees within the healthcare system. Nursing professionals are highly trained clinicians who combine scientific knowledge, critical thinking, and compassionate care to improve patient outcomes and support the overall functioning of medical teams. Their role extends far beyond bedside tasks—they are educators, advocates, care coordinators, and leaders within every healthcare setting. This includes all types of nurses from LPNs, to RNs, to APRNs and CRNAs.
The rigorous education required to become a nurse reflects the depth of responsibility the profession carries. Nursing programs encompass advanced anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and evidence‑based practice. Nurses must synthesize complex information quickly, make rapid and accurate clinical judgments, and collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams. This level of expertise positions nursing as a true professional degree that commands both respect and recognition.
Moreover, nurses play a critical role in patient safety, healthcare accessibility, and public health. They are often the primary point of contact for patients and families, ensuring care is delivered with competence, empathy, and continuity. Their contributions are foundational to the success of hospitals, clinics, long‑term care facilities, and community health programs.
Recognizing nursing as a professional degree is essential not only to honor the dedication of those in the field but also to support the continued advancement of healthcare standards. Ensuring nurses receive the respect, resources, and career development opportunities they deserve directly benefits the entire healthcare system.
Yet, our wonderful Department of Education has stated that nursing degrees are no longer professional degrees which limits the amount of funding that can be used for college and graduate school for nursing students, excludes already graduated nursing professionals from loan forgiveness programs reserved for professional degrees and will end to an even higher nursing profession shortage due to various student not being able to afford college. These changes are going to create significant financial obstacles for students pursuing advanced nursing education.
So since nursing is no longer classified as a "professional degree" does that mean that it is expected that we not be held to the same high professional standards that we have always been held to that are required to perform this profession? This makes no sense and calls for action from nurses, healthcare professionals and citizens of the United States. I ask you all to reach out to your congressman and senator and tell them that nursing should be classified as a professional degree as it takes 1000s of hours of education, training, clinicals and continuing education to be called a professional nurse.
Sincerely,
Cory McMahon, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
