In a significant policy shift, the Department of Education under the Trump administration has redefined the criteria for what constitutes a ‘professional’ degree program. This change has the potential to affect multiple key fields and could have serious implications for students who rely on financial aid to further their education.

One of the most notable adjustments in this reclassification is the exclusion of nursing from the list of degrees deemed ‘professional.’ This decision has raised concerns among educational institutions, especially at a time when the demand for healthcare professionals is critical across the nation.

Local college officials are speaking out about the timing and impact of this policy change. Many argue that this redefinition undermines efforts to strengthen the healthcare workforce, which is crucial given the current healthcare demands. Nursing, often regarded as the backbone of American healthcare, faces potential setbacks due to this reclassification.

Vandy Amason, who serves as the nursing director at the Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL), emphasized the urgency and importance of supporting nursing education in a statement. Amason and others in the educational field are highlighting the need for continued support and investment in nursing programs to ensure the nation can meet its healthcare needs effectively.

Vandy Amason, the nursing director at the Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL), said the following in a statement:

“Without affordable pathways to master’s and doctoral education, nursing schools will face declining enrollment and worsening faculty shortages. At a time when the nation urgently needs more nurse practitioners, clinical specialists and educators, this bill undermines the pipeline of professionals essential to sustaining the healthcare workforce.”

TCL and the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) have expanded their nursing programs over the years.

Through $11 million in statewide grants available to students, TCL has been able to provide nursing, as well as several other student programs, with hands on apprenticeships served locally.

“You can’t even fathom how this could greatly impact them,” said Suzanne Wurster, the Department Chair for USCB’s Nursing Program. “Many students go to nursing school to be able to become a nurse practitioner or certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). This bill will greatly impact those people who are thinking about those degrees because that’s a profession.”

USCB just received an almost $4 million federal grant for its Nursing Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) workforce expansion program.

The grant allows nursing students to be eligible for stipends to help cover their college and living expenses while pursuing their degree.

“Are students going to enter the nursing program? If they can’t get funding through loans, federal loans, that will significantly decrease the number of applicants that I have to the program here,” said Wurster. “If they can’t advance their degrees and be able to advance themselves professionally, who’s running our operating rooms?  Who seeing patients in a doctor’s office or a clinic?”

Wurster said many enrolled nursing students currently face financial hardships as is.

She said she doesn’t see how many more students won’t begin to ask themselves why they want to become a nurse and pursue a higher degree if it’s financially unobtainable.

“Who’s going to help me? How am I going to pay for it?  And if I can’t pay for it and I can’t fund it, then I’ll have to look at the list of the other declared professions and maybe change my degree altogether,” Wurster said.

Amason said nursing is the backbone of American healthcare and is a large part of the workforce in the Lowcountry.

“To exclude it from professional degree recognition devalues the profession and hinders patient care nationwide,” said Amason. “This bill sends the wrong message at the wrong time.  If we cannot support the education of future nurses, we cannot support the health of our communities.”

Amason said they would not allow the legislation to jeopardize their nursing programs, and they will continue with their plans to expand their programs as the local service area expands in healthcare facilities.

USCB also just expanded their nursing enrollment with the help of Beaufort Memorial.

“We’re actively expanding our program here.  I increased enrollment for the spring semester to try to really work with our new HRSA grant that we received as well, that supports nurses and it supports our students going through our program and you know, if I can’t continue to produce nurses, what does that do for the Lowcountry area specifically?” said Wurster.

Novant Health and Beaufort Memorial have plans to bring two new hospital facilities to Bluffton in the coming years.

Wurster said she fears how this bill will impact future employment at the facilities.

“If I can’t get students through my program, how are they going to open those facilities?  How are we going to have nurses,” said Wurster.

Wurster said they are already facing a nursing shortage and retaining nursing students entering the field locally.

“It’s painful to hear that in our Lowcountry we don’t pay as much as other areas do,” she said.

Wurster believes that without nurses, and the ability to have loan programs to help with higher education pursuit, eventually more facilities will see less employment, leading to lesser quality in patient care.

“I saw a quote yesterday on Facebook that said, what if all nurses decided to take a day off?  And if you just sit and think about that for one second, on just our local community hospitals, what would they do? They would literally not be able to function,” said Wurster.

USCB currently offers an undergraduate degree for nursing.

Wurster said the bill could prevent potential expansion into graduate programs.

We have, you know, been thinking about, do we expand to a graduate degree?  Obviously, with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, it could significantly impact that decision making of, do we advance what we offer here?” she said.

Wurster said the one thing they can do right now is spread the word and try and make a change to the recent provision.

“It just really makes you really want to reach out to as many people.  The American Nurses Association has put forth a petition to the government.  And if we can help spread that to thousands and thousands of people, I think that would be hugely beneficial,” she said.

Here is a link to the petition.