The American Nurses Association (ANA) has released an official statement regarding proposed changes from the U.S. Department of Education that could affect federal loan eligibility for graduate nursing education programs. As Wisconsin’s state-level professional nursing association, WNA is sharing this update so our members and the broader nursing community are aware of the potential implications for the nursing workforce.

According to ANA, the Department of Education’s proposed rule would exclude nursing from the definition of “professional degree” programs, which could limit access to federal financial aid for nurses pursuing graduate education. ANA notes that this change could have far-reaching consequences for nurses seeking advanced practice roles, leadership positions, or other graduate-level pathways that are vital to the health care workforce nationwide.

ANA emphasizes the importance of maintaining federal support for nursing education, pointing out that restricting loan access could negatively affect the country’s ability to prepare and sustain an advanced practice nursing workforce. Their full statement outlines the concerns in detail and underscores the need for continued investment in nursing education at the graduate level.

Read the full statement from the American Nurses Association:
https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2025/statement-from-the-american-nurses-association-on-proposed-federal-loan-policy-changes/

WNA will continue to keep Wisconsin nurses informed about national updates that may have downstream impacts on the profession. As always, we encourage our members to stay updated on ANA’s federal advocacy and to review the statement in full.