The U.S. Department of Education earlier this week announced that while the courts review the matter, advanced-practice nurses and other healthcare providers will be classified as “professional” degree students and can continue to take out the federal loans they need to complete their education. This comes after Attorney General Jeff Jackson sued the department over its new rule that unlawfully narrowed the definition of a “professional” degree – an illegal change that would have devastating consequences for North Carolina’s healthcare workforce.

“Our fight is still ongoing, but this is good news for our nursing and healthcare students as they plan for their next school year. This is about making sure that North Carolina has the healthcare workforce it needs to take care of its people, and we’re going to do everything we can to make that happen." – AG Jackson