Many clinical care colleagues eventually plan to pursue a higher-level clinical degree, such as advanced practice nursing, physical/occupational therapy or physician assistant. At Trinity Health, we believe those pathways should be affordable for all. 

Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Education has proposed reducing loan amounts available to post-baccalaureate nursing and other advanced clinical degree students by redefining the “professional” degree. 

By limiting available public funding, the Reimagining and Improving Student Education proposal will undermine access to educational degrees that create and support advanced practice clinical providers. 

This will impact us all. We are already experiencing workforce shortages. For example, Trinity Health’s vacancy rates for physical and occupational therapists hover around 8%. 

Schools of nursing are cautioning that the reclassification will create unnecessary barriers to higher education that could result in fewer students, clinical teachers and preceptors. 

If you share this priority, please ask Congress to protect educational access and defend essential health care professions. Take action now!