Action Required
martin...@gmail.com
To Listserv Members: We typically avoid conversations that could be considered political on the Omaha System Listserv. However, I feel strongly that nursing as a profession is in great jeopardy in the USA, and I feel the need to encourage action.
1.The U.S. Department of Education recently proposed regulations to omit nursing as a “professional degree”. This proposal diminishes nurses and nursing, AND threatens the ability to educate and sustain our nation’s workforce. Degrees, especially advanced degrees, will be devalued, student loans and funding to schools of nursing will decrease, quality of health care will be compromised, and the nursing shortage will increase even more.
2. Please contact your organizations and elected officials, and sign multiple petitions in opposition as soon as possible. Spread the word by recruiting family and friends to voice their opposition, too. Consider discussing it with your work colleagues and proceed, following your employer and employment rules.
Every voice matters AND numbers count! STOP this proposal now. Thank you.
____________________________________
Karen S. Martin, RN, MSN, FHIMSS, FAAN
Health Care Consultant
Martin Associates
5711 N. 167th Ave. Circle
Omaha, NE 68116
www.healthconnectionspress.com
martin...@gmail.com
To Listserv Members: I am re-posting this message because many of you had started/were starting a holiday break when I posted last week.
1.I want to thank those of you who sent personal emails to me and expressed your agreement to encourage action.
2. In addition, I have heard from several of my membership organizations and schools of nursing about the publicity they are initiating. Specifically, any of you, regardless of where you live, as well as your colleagues, students, clients, families, and friends can sign RN Action's petition to advocate for nurses and nurses' education. As mentioned before, EVERY vote is important. For more information on RN Action, ANA's digital advocacy hub, visit https://rnaction.org.
3. More details are appearing on social media, the Internet, and the public press. Newsweek posted the following article on December 2, 2025: Nurses furious over degree classification change: "Insulting" - Newsweek.
Thank you again for supporting this important action.
martin...@gmail.com
To Listserv Members:
1. I want to thank so many of you who said that you and your colleagues, families, and friends signed the petition in November and December! Apparently, the U.S. Department of Education is frustrated by the large number of responses they received in opposition of their proposal!! Click here for a recent article opposing the Department’s proposal: Nurses fight to retain professional eligibility for student loans.
2. Now, I am asking for your action again. The Department recently opened the “public comment period”, a critical step in the process to implement new legislation. The public comment period will close on March 2. Please open RNA Action's form and use the right side of their page. Alternatively, you can comment directly by opening the Federal Register and clicking on the “Submit a Public Comment” box toward the right side of the screen. Your comment on either Website can be as brief as “I OPPOSE the proposed rule changes and want nursing to STAY on the list of professional degrees.” You can add details about your own experiences, the likely negative effects the rule change will have on the public’s health, the healthcare system, and nursing, or more. Make certain you clearly state that you OPPOSE the Department’s proposal.
3. Decisions at the end of the public comment period are supposed to be based on the number of comments. It is essential that the Department receives THOUSANDS of emails opposing the proposed new rule! The total number/opposed count is much more important than how many details are included in our messages.
You are welcome to forward this message to your colleagues, families, and friends. THANKS so much for helping to stop this proposal!
martin...@gmail.com
All: Have been thrilled to receive responses from many of you who submitted public comment responses opposing the proposal. AND, as of this morning, February 23, the Federal Register lists that they received a total of 37,431 comments!! A number of you submitted responses as individuals. Some including Mary Narayan submitted as a representative of an organization; Mary represents the American nurses of the International Home Care Nurses Organization. There are advantages to using the Federal Register compared to the RNA Action form. If you use the Federal Register, it goes directly to the source to be counted, and you can select the option of “Anonymous” instead of typing your name. For many, that is a good idea.
Thank you very much!