11/25/2025
๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ (๐๐๐๐) ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐งโ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ
November 2025
The Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) strongly opposes the Department of Educationโs proposed reclassification that would exclude nursing from the definition of โprofessional degreeโ programs, thereby restricting nursesโ access to essential federal graduate loan programs. This change poses a direct threat to the nursing workforce pipeline and jeopardizes equitable access to advanced education for thousands of Filipino American nurses across the United States.
As the largest body representing Filipino American nurses nationwide, PNAA is committed to promoting excellence in nursing practice, advancing leadership, advocating for equitable health policy, and uplifting the communities we serve. The Departmentโs proposal undermines these core values and contradicts the educational rigor, licensure requirements, and clinical responsibilities demanded of the nursing profession.
Nursing isโand must remainโrecognized as a professional discipline. The proposed federal definition disregards the specialized training, critical thinking, and clinical competencies required to deliver safe, high-quality, patient-centered care. It also threatens the development of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), nurse educators, clinical leaders, and researchersโroles essential to addressing workforce shortages, improving health equity, and ensuring access to care in underserved areas.
Restricting federal loan access will disproportionately harm first-generation, immigrant, and minority nurses. Filipino American nurses, many of whom pursue graduate education to expand their practice, contribute to academia, or move into leadership roles, would face heightened financial barriers as a result of this policy.
PNAAโs position is informed by the broader concerns raised across the nursing profession, including those reflected in the joint statements issued by over 58 professional nursing organizations and coalitions. While we are aligned in principle with the issues highlighted by national nursing leaders, PNAA offers this independent statement to emphasize the unique and disproportionate impact the proposed rule would have on Filipino American nurses, immigrant populations, and the diverse communities they serve. A link to the joint statement on the American Nurses Association website is provided for additional context and reference.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ:
โข Revise the proposed definition of โprofessional degreeโ to explicitly include nursing, consistent with national accreditation and licensure standards.
โข Engage meaningfully with nursing organizationsโincluding ethnic minority nurse associationsโto ensure equitable and informed rulemaking.
โข Promote, rather than restrict, pathways to graduate nursing education, which are essential to sustaining a competent and diverse healthcare workforce.
๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐
PNAA encourages all members, leaders, students, and allies to join the national advocacy effort. These actions help demonstrate the breadth of opposition to the proposed rule.
๐๐ข๐ ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Nursing IS a Professional Degree โ Add Your Name:
https://ana.quorum.us/campaign/professionaldegreepetition/
๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ
Help illustrate the real-world impact of restricting graduate nursing loans.
Tell Your Story โ Why Nursing Must Remain a Professional Degree:
https://ana.quorum.us/campaign/shareyourstoryeducation/
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
As part of the federal rulemaking process, the Department of Education will soon open a public comment period. Every submitted comment becomes part of the official record and can influence whether the Department revises or withdraws the proposed rule.
PNAA will provide guidance, talking points, and sample language to support members in submitting strong, meaningful comments once the window opens.
Nurses are the backbone of the American healthcare system and essential to the health and safety of all communities. The Department of Education must recognize nursing as the professional discipline it is and ensure that financial barriers do not restrict the future of the U.S. nursing workforce.
PNAA stands committed to protecting access to advanced nursing education and to uplifting the leadership, expertise, and contributions of Filipino American nurses across the nation.
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