From the Nurse.com Team – In April 2026, the Department of Education finalized a rule redefining advanced nursing programs as graduate degree programs rather than professional for federal student loan purposes. However, a federal judge has temporarily blocked enforcement of that revised definition while a legal challenge moves forward.
From the Nurse.com Team – A group of 10 nursing organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education over its recent changes to student loan limits. The dispute centers on a federal rule that changed how nursing degrees are classified.
By Barry Bottino – Where you start your nursing career can shape both your professional growth and quality of life. So choosing the best states for new grads to advance their salary, job opportunities, and career trajectory is essential.
From the Nurse.com Team – VA nurses care for veterans across inpatient, outpatient, mental health, and long-term care settings, often managing complex, service-connected conditions. Nurses can become VA nurses with an active RN license from any U.S. state and by applying through USAJobs.gov.
By Natalie Vaughn MBA – Nurse bullying adds fuel to an already high-stress environment. To move toward a healthier, more supportive workplace, it starts with looking inward and asking whether our own words or actions, intentional or not, could be contributing to the problem.
By Cara Lunsford RN CPHON – There’s no single way to grieve, but we all feel its weight when someone who mattered is lost. On January 24, 2026, the nursing community learned of a sudden loss: Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse who cared for veterans at the Minneapolis VA Hospital, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during a public protest and law-enforcement response.
From the Nurse.com Team – With the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics finally here, fans everywhere are getting ready to watch their favorite events. But have you ever watched all 16 events and wondered which events were the most dangerous?
By Cara Lunsford RN CPHON – Nearly 15,000 nurses from several major New York City hospitals walked out on January 12, 2026, making it the largest nurses’ strike in the city’s history. There are many reasons for this strike, with staffing levels, workplace safety, and higher wages being the leading issues.
As we bid farewell to 2025, it’s time to reflect on the pivotal moments that shaped the healthcare landscape over the past year. This week’s Friday Five highlights HCNR stats, top contributors from Health IT Answers, top stories from HCNR and more.
By Natalie Vaughn – While the holiday season can be a meaningful time to reconnect with loved ones and recharge, healthcare remains one of the few industries that doesn’t slow down. In fact, as many nurses can attest, holiday nursing stress can be especially challenging.
By Zelda Meeker – When any healthcare provider introduces themselves as “doctor,” most patients may naturally assume they’re speaking to a physician. But what happens when the person using that title isn’t an MD, but a nurse with a doctoral degree?
By Nancy Brent MS JD RN – HIPAA is a federal law that protects the confidentiality and security of patient information. As a nurse, if you’re complying with this law and its regulations, you’re fulfilling your legal obligations relating to your patients’ confidentiality and the security of their health information.
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