NICU Solutions

My two cents on the recent discussion regarding Nursing as a profession, from an actively practicing Registered Professional Nurse for over 42 years (and an Advanced Practice Nurse for over 35 years). You will notice I am using the title Registered Professional Nurse. This is because that is what each and every one of my Nursing licenses have said for the past 42 years. I am licensed, in fact, by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. So yes, I am a professional, and I don’t think anyone is disputing that. If I include them all, my full list of credentials includes PhD, MSN, BSN, RNC-NPT, APN/NNP-BC, APN/CCNS-N. So I might have an opinion or two about this. If you’re not up for hearing them, please at least click on the link I am including in this post, and consider signing the petition (I swear, it’s a much shorter read).

While Nursing was never explicitly listed as a professional degree under the Higher Education Act of 1965, the Act provided federal funding for university-based students. So we were always included under the umbrella of being eligible for federally-funded grants and loans, and many Nurses, some retired, and some still practicing today, benefitted from those programs (and hence, so did their patients). This new Bill explicitly omits Nursing degrees, specifically Advanced Practice Nursing degrees such as Master's or Doctorate level degrees, from being eligible for the higher loan limits that will continue to be available to other post-baccalaureate degrees including MD, DDS, and JD, just to name a few (there are actually 11 total).

So while it’s true that the new Bill does not state that Nurses are not professionals, it does cap the monies available to Nurses seeking higher degrees. The new Bill, set to affect loans distributed after July 1, 2026, will not impact undergraduate students, who will still be able to borrow up to $7500 per year. However, graduate students seeking degrees not listed under the category of ‘professional programs’ will be limited to borrowing up to $20,500 per year, or $100,000 total for their graduate studies. Those seeking degrees listed under the category of ‘professional programs’ can borrow up to $50,000 a year, or $200,000 total.

That means that under the new Bill, Nurses will be able to borrow only half of what those whose degrees are listed as a ‘professional degree’ can borrow (trust me, I’m fully aware that that’s probably a good thing). So the vast majority of Nurses looking to advance their education to practice in an Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) role (this includes Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Midwife, and Nurse Anesthetist) will likely have less opportunities to seek out those roles by obtaining the required education. Or, in the alternative, they will be forced to seek out private loans, often at higher interest rates, to help fund their education. And it’s not just Nurses. Social Workers, Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Physician Assistants, and even Teachers, all of whom are required to hold advanced degrees, will be affected by this change.

Now, in the spirit of point-counterpoint, there is much discussion out there saying that these caps on federally-funded student loans are necessary and will force colleges and universities to lower their tuition costs to keep them within reach of those depending on these loans. That may be true. But change doesn’t happen overnight. For Nurses especially, we are running out of time. According to a 2024 report by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the median age of Nurses in the U.S. is 46, and more than 25% of those surveyed plan to retire in the next five years. Many Nurses and other healthcare professionals left their professions during and after COVID. Making higher education less obtainable for a large proportion of the healthcare workforce will only worsen the shortages we are seeing today. It’s a broken system, that’s for sure. But excluding Nursing and other vital health care specialties from access to higher education by limiting their access to these federally-funded loans will only worsen the health care crisis we are already experiencing.

The future of healthcare is uncertain, at best. And that affects all of us. I implore you to please sign the petition, and please share this with everyone you know and love. You don’t need to be a health care professional to sign.

https://ana.quorum.us/campaign/professionaldegreepetition/

Nursing IS a Professional Degree Add your name to the petition for nursing to be included in the definition of 'professional degree' programs.

Hi Everyone,

If you use Rakuten, they are having great cashback deals on certain dates starting tomorrow. See the attached photo - I will be ordering my Christmas cards on Shutterfly as I do each year, but will definitely wait until November 17th for the 25% cash back (I'll still be able to use my Shutterfly coupons).

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St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona will be hosting our Comprehensive NICU Review and Certification Preparation program on September 16, 17, & 18, 2024. Registration is available on our website. Be sure to register before the August 26, 2024 early registration fee deadline!

NICU Solutions - Comprehensive Neonatal Review & NICU Certification Preparation Program This 3-day course provides a comprehensive overview of either Low-Risk Neonatal or High-Risk Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (depending on which course you choose). Whether you are a new nurse looking for a complete overview, a seasoned nurse in need of a refresher, or an experienced nurse planning....

Our highly-rated Comprehensive Neonatal Review and High Risk NICU Certification Preparation course is scheduled for September 16, 17, & 18, 2024, hosted by St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona! We have a limited number of seats available on a first come, first served basis. Early and late registration fees apply, so register now to secure your seat. You can view the program agenda and enroll in the course using the attached link. Be sure to share with friends and colleagues!

NICU Solutions - Comprehensive Neonatal Review & NICU Certification Preparation Program This 3-day course provides a comprehensive overview of either Low-Risk Neonatal or High-Risk Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (depending on which course you choose). Whether you are a new nurse looking for a complete overview, a seasoned nurse in need of a refresher, or an experienced nurse planning....

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See sizing chart included in this post

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$28 each, plus shipping (Shipping to US addresses only)
Sold and shipped through Facebook Marketplace
Please message us to arrange your purchase

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One available in Women's Size 12
See sizing chart included in this post

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Nurse convicted of criminally negligent homicide after giving a patient the wrong medication. Link to the American Nurses Association response in the comments.

Former nurse found guilty in accidental injection death of 75-year-old patient RaDonda Vaught's conviction could lead to years in prison. It's a rare case of a medical mistake being deemed a crime, and many worry it will have a chilling effect on the entire nursing profession.

Hi, Friends! Are you interested in sharing your views about pharmaceutical and other healthcare products related to your specialty area of practice? Participating in market research and focus groups is a great way to use your expertise in an altogether different way. Opportunities for in-person and web-based campaigns are available throughout the country, and the pay is fantastic!

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https://www.statnews.com/2022/01/13/nurse-resignations-solution-cold-hard-cash/

The solution to the wave of nurse resignations? Cold, hard cash Hospitals must track nurse burnout in the same way they keep tabs on infections, errors, and falls, and give nurses higher pay and greater agency to make them feel seen, valued, and invested in.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/12/26/1066395049/intimate-portraits-of-a-hospital-covid-unit-from-a-photojournalist-turned-nurse

Intimate portraits of a hospital COVID unit from a photojournalist-turned-nurse Alan Hawes hopes his photos of health care workers and COVID patients will show the toll of this pandemic — and persuade the unvaccinated to get their COVID shots.