A quiet but significant policy change out of Washington could have big consequences for the future U.S. nursing workforce and it may increase the need for healthcare employers to hire international nurses.
The U.S. Department of Education has removed graduate nursing from its list of “professional degree” programs as part of a broader overhaul of federal student loan rules tied to President Donald Trump’s legislative package sometimes referred to as “One Big Beautiful Bill,” according to recent reporting from Newsweek.
For hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and healthcare systems already struggling with staffing shortages, this shift could make it even harder for U.S. students to afford advanced nursing education. That, in turn, may drive greater reliance on international nurses to fill critical roles. At VisaMadeEZ, an immigration law firm that focuses on helping healthcare organizations hire foreign-educated nurses, we are closely tracking what this could mean for workforce planning and immigration strategy.
What changed in the Department of Education’s policy?
Previously, certain graduate programs were classified as “professional degree” programs, allowing students to access a higher aggregate federal student loan limit up to $200,000 in many cases. Under the new definition, only a narrow list of fields continues to qualify as “professional programs,” including:
- Medicine (MD)
- Dentistry
- Pharmacy
- Optometry
- Law
- Veterinary medicine
- Osteopathic medicine (DO)
- Podiatry
- Chiropractic
- Theology
- Clinical psychology
Graduate nursing programs, however, have been removed from this category. That means programs such as:
- Nurse practitioner (NP) programs
- Clinical nurse specialist programs
- Certified nurse midwife programs
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs
no longer fall under the “professional degree” umbrella for the purposes of the higher student loan cap.
As proposed rules stand, other healthcare-related programs are also excluded, including:
- Physician assistant (PA) programs
- Physical therapy (PT) programs
- Audiology programs
In short, many advanced clinical education tracks that are essential to the U.S. healthcare system are being treated differently than medicine, dentistry, and law when it comes to federal borrowing limits.
Why this matters for the nursing pipeline
On paper, a change in student loan categories may sound like a technical administrative detail. In reality, it has real-world consequences for the future nursing workforce.
According to the American Nurses Association (ANA):
- More than 260,000 students are enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs
- Around 42,000 students are enrolled in Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs
Many of these nursing students plan to continue their education moving into graduate nursing programs to become nurse practitioners, clinical leaders, educators, or specialists in high-need areas like geriatrics, critical care, or primary care.
Critics of the rule change argue that:
- Limiting access to higher federal loan amounts will discourage nurses from pursuing advanced degrees.
- Out-of-pocket costs for graduate nursing programs may rise, especially for students from lower-income or first-generation backgrounds.
- The existing nursing shortage which already challenges hospitals and healthcare organizations across the U.S. could worsen as fewer nurses are able to finance graduate training.
In an environment where many facilities depend on advanced practice nurses to deliver primary care, manage chronic disease, and support specialized services, this is not a small concern.
How this connects to the national nursing shortage
The United States has been grappling with a nursing shortage for years, driven by:
- An aging population with complex health needs
- High burnout and turnover among nurses
- A wave of retirements among experienced RNs
- Limited capacity in nursing schools due to faculty and clinical placement shortages
Now, if graduate nursing education becomes less accessible because students cannot borrow enough to cover the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses, the country could see:
- Fewer nurse practitioners and advanced practice nurses entering the workforce
- Reduced capacity in outpatient, rural, and underserved settings that rely on NPs
- Increased pressure on existing staff, leading to more burnout and turnover
For healthcare employers, this may translate into even more difficulty recruiting domestically trained nurses especially in specialized or advanced clinical roles.
Why international nurses will become even more important
As domestic educational pathways face new financial barriers, international nurses are likely to play an even more critical role in maintaining the stability of the U.S. healthcare system.
Here’s how this policy shift could indirectly increase demand for foreign-educated nurses:
1) Slower growth in the U.S.-trained nursing workforce
If fewer American nurses can afford graduate training, employers may struggle to fill roles that require advanced skills. Hiring internationally trained nurses many of whom already have strong clinical experience and sometimes advanced education can help close that gap.
2) Higher reliance on global talent for hard-to-fill positions
Hospitals, long-term care facilities, and outpatient centers in rural or underserved areas already encounter major challenges recruiting local nurses. As domestic supply tightens, these organizations may need to turn more consistently to international nurse recruitment as part of a long-term staffing strategy.
3) Greater emphasis on stable, long-term staffing solutions
Travel nurses and temporary staffing are costly and unpredictable. Employers who integrate international nurse hiring through employment-based visas (such as EB-3 for nurses) can build a more stable, permanent workforce even as domestic market pressures grow.
How VisaMadeEZ helps healthcare employers respond strategically
At VisaMadeEZ, we specialize in guiding healthcare organizations through the process of hiring international nurses and navigating U.S. immigration law. Policy changes like the Department of Education’s redefinition of “professional degree” programs underscore why strategic workforce planning is more important than ever.
We work with:
- Hospitals and health systems
- Long-term care and skilled nursing facilities
- Home health and hospice providers
- Clinics and ambulatory care centers
to design and implement international nurse recruitment programs tailored to their needs. Our services include:
- Evaluating workforce gaps that domestic hiring cannot fill
- Building immigration strategies around EB-3 visas for nurses and other employment-based options
- Coordinating with HR and clinical leadership to align immigration timelines with onboarding and training plans
- Ensuring compliance with U.S. immigration regulations and healthcare industry standards
Turning a challenge into an opportunity
While the Department of Education’s decision to remove graduate nursing from the “professional degree” loan category is concerning for the future of domestic nursing education, it also serves as a clear signal: healthcare organizations cannot rely solely on traditional pipelines to meet their staffing needs.
International nurses who bring valuable clinical skills, diverse perspectives, and a strong commitment to patient care are an essential part of any sustainable staffing strategy. With thoughtful planning, healthcare employers can:
- Stabilize their nursing workforce
- Maintain high-quality patient care
- Reduce reliance on short-term, high-cost staffing solutions
- Build a more resilient, diverse care team
What healthcare leaders should do next
If you are a healthcare executive, HR leader, or nursing director, now is an ideal time to:
- Assess how potential reductions in graduate nursing enrollment might affect your staffing over the next 3–10 years
- Identify departments and facilities where international nurses could help relieve pressure
- Develop or expand your organization’s international nurse recruitment program
- Align immigration timelines with your broader workforce and service expansion plans
VisaMadeEZ is here to help you navigate this shifting landscape. We understand both the complexities of U.S. immigration law and the day-to-day realities of healthcare staffing. Our mission is to make it easier for you to hire qualified international nurses in a compliant, efficient, and predictable way.
If you’d like to discuss how this federal loan policy change might impact your workforce strategy and how international nurse hiring can help close the gap reach out to VisaMadeEZ today. Together, we can build a staffing plan that supports your patients, your team, and your long-term growth.
