Ever wonder how one decision in Washington could ripple all the way to your community’s medication room? Well, here we are. The recent decision by the U.S. Department of Education to exclude nursing from its list of recognized professional degree programs is more than just bureaucratic red tape, it’s a troubling blow to the profession we rely on every single day. When nursing gets sidelined, residents feel the impact.

The change may sound technical, but it’s anything but trivial. As explained by the Advisory Board, excluding nursing from the professional degree list groups it with academic programs that don’t require licensure or clinical hours, such as history or communications. This shift impacts funding, loan repayment options, and the number of qualified individuals who choose to pursue or remain in nursing careers.

This move, according to a detailed report from Nurse.org, undermines the rigor of nursing education and threatens the pipeline of future nurses. Clinical experience, licensure exams, and a lifelong commitment to hands-on resident care are not optional in nursing, they’re the backbone of the profession. Yet with this change, the field may appear less viable or prestigious to students considering their career path.

In senior living communities, where staffing shortages already challenge care delivery, the ripple effects could be severe. We rely on nurses to manage medications, monitor chronic conditions, and detect changes in residents’ health before they become emergencies. If fewer nurses enter the field, or if current nurses feel unsupported and undervalued, our residents lose access to the care they deserve.

This isn’t just about degrees and classifications, it’s about maintaining the strength of a workforce that does vital work in every community across the country. When a role as critical as nursing is no longer recognized at the same level as law or medicine, it sends the wrong message at the worst possible time.

And it’s not too late to speak up. Organizations like the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and others are urging federal agencies to reconsider this decision. They’re right to push back, because keeping experienced, well-trained nurses in our communities is essential to ensuring residents continue to thrive. The decision to keep nursing excluded from professional degree list programs must be reconsidered, for the sake of the profession and the care we provide.

Stay well and stay informed!