National Nurses United

NATIONAL N ational Nurses United condemns the Trump administration's pro- posed rulemaking plan to exclude graduate nursing students from pro- fessional loans, which have higher limits than those for other graduate students. This is an outrageous attack on the nursing profession, students, working-class people, and women. H.R. 1, a Trump and GOP bill passed in July that slashed Medicaid and SNAP bene- fits to give tax breaks to billionaires, also included changes to student loan programs. This would affect nurses who are pursuing graduate degrees to be nurse practitioners (NPs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), or other positions requiring an advanced degree. They would not be eligible for loans at the higher limits allowed only for the Department of Education's (DOE) specific list of professions. Graduate stu- dents pursuing so-called professional degrees are eligible for more than twice as much funding for each academic year and twice as much total funding than graduate nursing students. It is an insult to nurses, the most trusted profession in the nation. NPs currently provide much-needed pri- mary care, particularly in rural and underserved areas. If this proposed rule went into effect, it could have a major impact on nurses' access to graduate nursing programs. In addition, this proposed rule change would make it more diffi- cult to find nursing faculty with advanced degrees to teach in nursing programs. If the Trump administration truly wanted to support nurses, it would be working to improve working conditions, expand educa- tion opportunities, and ensure patients can get health care. Instead, this administration is stripping VA nurses of their union rights, mak- ing education harder to access, and cutting health care for those who need it most. H.R. 1 is a cruel piece of legislation that will have dis- astrous consequences for the most vulnerable in our communities. Millions will lose access to health care. Meanwhile, the rich will get richer. NNU is also concerned how this could contribute to the nationwide nurse staffing crisis, commonly and mistak- enly called a nursing shortage. The hospital indus- try has created a staffing crisis by refusing to staff hospitals appropriately and creating conditions that are unsafe for patients and nurses. Based on available data from the US BLS on employment and National Council of State Boards of Nursing on licenses, there is reason to believe over a million actively licensed RNs are not working at the bedside. Shutting down nurses' access to resources to seek higher education will only further contribute to forces driving nurses away from the bedside. NNU is fighting this proposed rule, so sign up for NNU emails and check our website to learn about how you can object. —Chuleenan Svetvilas NNU condemns Trump administration loan changes Nurses decry the exclusion of nurses from graduate professional degree loans NEWS BRIEFS 10 N A T I O N A L N U R S E W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G O C T O B E R | N O V E M B E R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 5 CALIFORNIA R egistered nurses at Sutter Davis Hospital in Davis, Calif., voted to rat- ify their first-ever collective bargaining agreement in November. Nurses, represented by California Nurses Asso- ciation/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU), say the new agreement is a hard-fought victory for their patients and themselves. "This is a massive victory for us as nurses and for our patients," said Kathleen Belle Dartt, RN in the medical-surgical-telemetry unit at Sutter Davis. "We've won measures that will make our hospital a better place to get care and a better place to work. With this new agreement, we'll have solidified our voice in how our hospital runs. Highlights of the agreement include the estab- lishment of a staff RN-controlled committee that holds meetings with management to address solutions for ongoing patient care concerns; workplace violence prevention language that requires meetings with security and adminis- tration to improve policies and procedures; protections against untested technology through contract language that ensures nurses have a say in the implementation of new tech- nology, such as artificial intelligence, to ensure it enhances, not diminishes, patient care; and prohibitions against mandatory overtime and just-cause discipline protections. Nurses also won economic gains and health benefit provisions to help retain and recruit experienced nurses, including a 10.5 percent wage increase over two years, in addition to 2.75 percent yearly steps for new hires, and no health care takeaways. "We are so proud of our first contract. Our new committee will empower us to make real changes in patient care," said Bernadette Arreola, RN in the perioperative unit at Sutter Davis. "Our wins in this contract will give us a seat at the table and the conditions we need to recruit and retain highly skilled nurses." Nurses at Sutter Davis voted to join CNA/ NNU in August 2024, making them one of 18 Sutter facilities represented by CNA/NNU. CNA represents more than 250 nurses at Sutter Davis Hospital and more than 8,500 nurses at Sutter facilities across California. —Lucy Diavolo Davis nurses approve first contract

• Cover