Action 183 We need nurses!
Background: It’s hard not to come to the conclusion that the MAGA/Republican/Christian Nationalist method of keeping the human population numbers down is to first create more people in their own image, then kill off as many other living people as possible. Consider that
o Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed (including by Susan Collins). He aims to destroy life-saving vaccines and espouses other crackpot medical theories.
o US Aid funding was destroyed, resulting in millions of deaths in other nations.
o The Supreme Court eliminated most abortion care, risking women’s lives.
o Medical insurance is about to become unaffordable, so people won’t get care until it’s too late.
o And now, Trump has defined advanced nursing as not professional-degree worthy, creating a huge barrier to entering into these badly needed professions. (1)
Friends in the nursing profession had this to say about the latest Trump travesty: Not classifying graduate nursing as a profession “could seriously limit federal borrowing for graduate nursing students. It affects other careers too, but for nursing, all CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) programs are doctorate programs. The total program usually costs over $150k, and you are out of work for 3 years. That’s a rough total cost estimate of around $300-350k to obtain the degree, which includes lost wages and tuition. Professional degree seekers can borrow up to $200k, but now that nursing is to be excluded from the professional class, borrowing at decent rates would fall under the normal $100k cap for a graduate degree. DNP (doctor of nursing practice) and NP (nurse practitioner) programs would be similarly restricted. This would be a massive roadblock for the vast majority of prospective students, (as) most private lending for graduate degrees is incredibly predatory.”
Action: Alert your legislators and protest this absurd development. We need more well-trained medical professionals, not fewer. It shouldn’t be impossible for talented Mainers of modest means to enter these life-saving professions. Ask our legislative delegation to “pay attention to this matter” and do something about it. Talk to your nurse friends and ask them to share their stories with nurse.org (See Extra Credit item 2)
Contact:
Senator Susan Collins: Email: www.collins.senate.gov/contact/email-senator-collins/form
Phone: (202) 224-2523 (DC office), (207) 945-0417 (Bangor office)
Senator Angus King: Email www.king.senate.gov/contact
Phone: (202) 224-5344 (DC office), (207) 945-8000 (Bangor office)
Representative Jared Golden: Email: golden.house.gov/contact
Phone: (202) 224-3121 (DC office), (207) 249-7400 (Bangor office)
Representative Chellie Pingree: Email: https://pingree.house.gov/contact/
Phone: (202) 225-6116 (DC office), (207) 774-5019 (Portland office)
Urgency: The sooner the better, at least by year end. July 1, 2026 is when the new standard will go into effect if nothing is done, and it takes time to get matters like this acknowledged and addressed.
Extra Credit:
(1) https://www.tmz.com/2025/11/21/nursing-degree-trump-administration/
(2) https://nurse.org/news/nursing-excluded-as-professional-degree-dept-of-ed/#what-can-nurses-do
(3) https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2025/statement-from-the-american-nurses-association-on-proposed-federal-loan-policy-changes/
Action 183 Addendum
I love it when you write to amplify the action items! This is from Renata: “Just FYI, it seems to be more graduate degrees than just nursing (I checked with Snopes fact checker). Social work (MSW), public health (MPH, Dr.PH), Physician Assistants (PA), Occupational Therapists (OT), Physical Therapists (PT), Speech and Language Therapists, and many types of Counseling Programs will fall under this removal from Professional status at Dept of Ed (if it passes). What does it mean "if it passes"? That's hard to tease out. The process (per Snopes) is "negotiated rulemaking, a public comment period, and a final proposal before a rule becomes law." I don't trust this administration to follow ordered normal steps.” Agreed, Renata! This administration will ignore public comments, unless there is an overwhelming public outcry. The whole scheme looks like a giveaway to those predatory lenders, and part of Project 2025’s destruction of public education. Becoming an MD also will be unaffordable except for the already wealthy.