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AACN Statement on the U.S. Department of Education’s Final Rule Abandoning Nursing Education as a Professional Degree

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AACN Statement on the U.S. Department of Education’s Final Rule Abandoning Nursing Education as a Professional Degree

April 30, 2026 | Policy & Advocacy

On the eve of National Nurses Week, the Department of Education released its unpublished final rule, set to take effect on July 1, 2026, that excludes nursing from its definition of professional degree programs.

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The U.S. is projected to experience a shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) that is expected to intensify as Baby Boomers age and the need for health care grows. Compounding the problem is the fact that nursing schools across the country are struggling to expand capacity to meet the rising demand for care. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is working with schools, policy makers, nursing organizations, and the media to bring attention to this healthcare concern. Â鶹APP is leveraging its resources to shape legislation, identify strategies, and form collaborations to address the shortage.

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The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education

Used to define quality in nursing education, the AACN Essentials outline the necessary curriculum content and expected competencies of graduates from baccalaureate, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. With the endorsement of the new AACN Essentials by the membership in April 2021, academic nursing is moving toward a new model and framework for nursing education using a competency-based approach.  Â鶹APP is committed to providing resources, education, and facilitate this transformation.

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Â鶹APP initiated the Thought Leaders Assembly in 2016 to provide a forum for generative thinking by the Board of Directors, invited guests, member deans, practice leaders, and senior staff on emerging trends and issues impacting health, health care, and higher education. The dialogue is designed to stimulate fresh thinking and better position AACN to serve as a catalyst for excellence and innovation in academic nursing.

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