AAN Echoes Concerns Regarding Patient Outcomes if Nursing is Not Recognized as a Professional Degree

American Academy of Nursing Echoes Grave Concerns Regarding Patient Outcomes if Nursing is Not Recognized as a Professional Degree

Washington, DC (November 24, 2025) — The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) has closely followed the actions of the Department of Education’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee that came to preliminary consensus on a definition for “professional degree programs,” that excludes nursing. 

This recommendation, if adopted, could place a dire strain on the health care system related to access and quality of care. First, and foremost, the nursing profession is a scientific discipline that is foundational to improved patient outcomes. Over the decades, nursing innovations have ushered in monumental improvements to how care is provided at the bedside and in the community. To not recognize nursing as a professional degree would be short-sighted and could have long-term implications on the nation’s health.

“The gravity of this proposal, should it move forward, is severe. At a time when the complexity of the health care system continues to grow and costs rise, nurses who are highly-educated, skilled professionals driven by evidence, are essential to meeting the challenges of a rapidly evolving environment,” said Debra J. Barksdale, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP, ANEF, FAAN, Academy President. 

The Academy will be working with our colleagues both within and outside the profession to share our deep concerns with the Department of Education when the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is released. It will be vital that the Department of Education understands the role of nurses within the health care system, their leadership within it, and the value they bring to patients and families every day. If this definition were written into final regulations, it could establish a harmful precedent that would have far-reaching consequences for not only the growth of the nursing profession, but the future of health care delivery. 

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About the American Academy of Nursing
The American Academy of Nursing serves the public by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. Academy Fellows are inducted into the organization for their extraordinary contributions to improve health locally and globally. With more than 3,300 Fellows, the Academy represents nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia.

Contact: Caroline Kane | 202-777-1170 | ckane@AANnet.org