National Rural Health Association Joins Nurse-Forward Lawsuit Against the Department of Education’s Definition of “Professional Degree” Programs
Addition of leading rural health organization underscores concerns that the rule threatens patient access to care in communities nationwide
Washington, DC – The American Nurses Association (ANA), the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM), the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA), the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON), Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporated, the Health Ministries Association (HMA), the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS), and the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH) are pleased to announce the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) has joined the lawsuit challenging the Department of Education’s exclusion of advanced nursing degrees from the definition of “professional degree” programs.
NRHA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of rural Americans. The organization joined the lawsuit because it recognizes the vital role advanced practice nurses play in delivering care across rural communities and is concerned that the Department of Education's rule could make it harder for rural patients to access the healthcare services they depend on. As many rural communities face persistent provider shortages and barriers to care, NRHA believes maintaining pathways to advanced nursing education is critical to ensuring patients can continue to receive timely, high-quality care close to home.
“NRHA’s decision to join this lawsuit underscores what nurses and rural communities already know: when we block nurses’ access to advanced education, patients pay the price, especially in areas where a single nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist may be the only lifeline for miles,” said Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, president of the American Nurses Association. “The Department of Education’s rule threatens the pipeline of advanced practice nurses at the exact moment patients and communities need them most. We are proud to welcome NRHA to this effort as we work to protect nurses’ access to graduate education and preserve access to high-quality care for patients across rural and underserved communities.”
“Rural communities are already facing a severe and escalating workforce crisis. Any policy that makes it harder to pursue advanced nursing education will only deepen the shortages our members confront every day,” said Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association. “Federal student loan programs are one of the few reliable pathways that allow students from rural underserved areas to enter the health professions and return home to care for their communities. Excluding advanced nursing degrees from the definition of ‘professional degree’ threatens to close that pathway at the very moment rural hospitals, clinics, and patients can least afford it.
NRHA's participation broadens the coalition challenging the Department's policy and highlights the far-reaching consequences the rule could have on healthcare access. In many rural and underserved communities, advanced practice and graduate-prepared nurses serve as essential providers of primary, maternal, behavioral health, and specialty care. The organizations contend that limiting access to graduate nursing education will ultimately reduce patients' access to these critical services.
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About the American Nurses Association
As the preeminent organization representing more than 5 million registered nurses, the American Nurses Association stands at the forefront of advancing nursing excellence. The association harnesses The Power of Nurses™ to champion the profession and drive transformation in healthcare. Through legislative and political advocacy, comprehensive educational services, and the profession’s leading Code of Ethics and Scope and Standards, the association empowers nurses across every specialty and practice setting. The association is committed to ensuring healthy work environments, shaping pioneering policies, and cultivating partnerships that enhance both the nursing profession and the broader healthcare experience.
MEDIA CONTACT: newsroom@ana.org
About the National Rural Health Association
NRHA is a non-profit membership organization with more than 21,000 members nationwide that provides leadership on rural health issues. Our membership includes nearly every component of rural America’s health care, including rural community hospitals, critical access hospitals, doctors, nurses, and patients. We work to improve rural America’s health needs through government advocacy, communications, education, and research.