NYSNA Update: November 26, 2025

Carthage and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center Nurses March on the Boss

Last Thursday, Nov. 20, nurses at Carthage Area Hospital and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center marched on the boss and delivered their bargaining platform petition! A strong majority of nurses signed the petition, showing their unity and determination as they bargain for a new contract.

Nurses at Carthage and Claxton-Hepburn are ready to fight for strong union contracts with the safe staffing standards and fair wages and benefits needed to deliver safe, quality care for patients. Nurses and healthcare professionals at seven North Country hospitals are fighting for fair contracts that protect services and patient care. Save the date for their Dec. 10 virtual town hall meeting!

NYSNA Statement on the Department of Education’s Proposed Rule to Exclude Nursing From “Professional Degree” Programs

President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill" law is one of the most significant overhauls to federal student aid in decades. It limits the amount students and families can borrow, cuts the number of repayment plans they’ll have to choose from, and eliminates or restricts loan forgiveness programs. Many of the details on how those changes are being put into effect are up to the Education Department, which has been drafting new rules and regulations.

Limiting federal loans for APRNs

• Federal loans are the foundation of student financial aid due to their robust borrower protections, lower cost and flexibility. The OBBBA limited guaranteed federal student loans for graduate programs to $100,000 and professional degree programs to $200,000 in total loans.
• This proposed rule would make nursing students pursuing advanced practice degrees ineligible for maximum federal loan borrowing opportunities — putting advanced degrees for nurses further out of reach financially. Master of Science, nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist and other graduate degree programs will not be in the $200,000 cap “professional” category and will instead be capped at the generic graduate school level of $100,000.
• The scope of the proposal goes beyond nursing and includes public health, physician assistant studies, audiology, social work, and physical therapy.

On Friday, Nov. 21, NYSNA released a short statement in response to the Department of Education’s proposed rule that removes nursing degrees from the definitions of “professional” education. NewsDay,​ ​Pix 11​, ​ABC, and WBAI​ covered NYSNA’s latest statement.

Today, Nov. 26, National Nurses United (NNU) released a statement condemning the proposed rule, emphasizing how this proposed rule will exacerbate the nurse staffing crisis and damage healthcare, along with the Medicaid cuts contained in the “OBBBA” to fund tax cuts for billionaires.

Grad Plus Program

• The “OBBBA" also eliminated the Grad Plus Program for new borrowers. Until now, students could borrow up to the cost of their graduate school education avoiding the need for higher interest private student loans. These loans could be used to cover expenses beyond tuition like housing and childcare.

Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program

• In March, President Trump signed an Executive Order essentially restricting public service loan forgiveness programs on political and ideological grounds under which public sector and nonprofit workers, including nurses, could be found “unpatriotic” and ineligible for loan forgiveness for advocating for or working in settings supporting immigrants, gender-affirming and reproductive health care, or diversity programs.
• Since the final rule enforcing this Executive Order was announced in October, a coalition of state Attorney Generals led by New York’s Letitia James filed several lawsuits against the DOE.

The proposed loan regulations defining what qualifies as “professional degree" still need to be posted on the federal register and allow for public comment before formal adoption. We are monitoring this process closely and intend to advocate aggressively against these proposed rules.

NYSNA vehemently opposes these regulations, which reduce opportunities for advancement in vulnerable communities, will lead to economic hardship for nurses, fewer nurses and advanced practice nurses in the workplace, and worse outcomes for patients. Stay tuned for ways you can raise your voice in opposition to this proposed rule!

NYSNA Wishes You a Happy Thanksgiving!

This holiday, we honor all the nurses and healthcare professionals, like you, who keep our communities healthy during the holidays and every day. We are so thankful and inspired by all the ways NYSNA members advocate for their rights, benefits and safe working conditions to improve their lives and the lives of their families.

Whether it’s caring for patients at the bedside or speaking out for nurses’ and patients’ rights and safety, you have gone above and beyond to advocate for your communities — dedicating yourselves to serving others. Thank you for everything you do for fellow nurses and healthcare professionals, patients and communities.