Trump Administration Excludes Nursing from Professional Degrees, Impacting New Mexico Workforce
The Trump administration has decided to exclude nursing from the list of professional degrees, which limits the amount of federal student loans nursing students can access. Under the new guidelines, graduate nursing students are capped at a lifetime total of $100,000 in federal student loans, compared to $200,000 for other professional degrees such as medical and law. This decision has sparked concern among New Mexico health and education officials, who fear it could negatively impact the state's nursing workforce. Yolanda Avila Ulmer, president of the New Mexico hospital workers' union, criticized the move as an insult to the nursing profession and a threat to public health. The changes, set to take effect on July 1, will affect students pursuing advanced nursing degrees necessary for roles like nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives. New Mexico already faces a shortage of these professionals, particularly in rural areas. 
