HJAR Jul/Aug 2026

48 JUL / AUG 2026 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS NURSING COLUMN NURSING ACROSS the healthcare system, we rely on nurses being on the front lines of deliv- ering patient-centered care, but a recent federal rule change could make existing nursing shortages worse. With more than five million registered nurses (RNs) working in hospitals, clin- ics, and community settings across the country, nursing is the largest healthcare profession. Nationally, nearly 40% of RNs report that they plan to retire or leave nursing within the next five years — exac- erbating the existing shortage of nurses. Arkansas could face a shortage of up to 10,000 nursing positions by 2030. Federal Rule Change Limiting Loans Will Harm the Future of Nursing A New Barrier to Nursing Education As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), the federal government changed the caps on the amount that graduate and professional students can borrow from the federal government — a decision that could have a large impact on the nursing profes- sion. The caps outlined in the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) final rule are based on whether a conferred degree is considered part of a graduate or professional program. The Department of Education describes a professional degree as “completion of the academic require- ments for beginning practice in a given profession and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bach- elor’s degree.” The finalized RISE rule has significant implications for aspiring nurses. One issue is the cost of education. According to the final rule, the amount that nursing stu- dents can now borrow for their graduate training is limited to $20,500 annually and $100,000 during their lifetime. Students in professional degree programs can bor- row up to $50,000 and $200,000 annual- ly and during their lifetime, respectively. While tuition costs for nursing programs vary across the country, the average cost