Protecting Our Profession and Our Students: A Thanksgiving Message from a Mississippi School Nurse
As we head into the Thanksgiving break, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for every school nurse across our state. The work you do matters more than many people will ever realize. You provide safety, stability, comfort, and medical expertise to students who depend on you every single day. I hope this upcoming break gives you time to rest, recharge, and enjoy moments with the people you love.
But before we unplug for the holiday, I want to share two urgent national policy developments that could significantly—and negatively—impact school nursing in Mississippi and beyond. These issues deserve our attention, and our voices.
1. Federal Redefinition of “Professional Degree” Places Nursing at Risk
Recent reporting from The Relentless School Nurse highlights a troubling proposal from the U.S. Department of Education: a policy shift that may exclude nursing degrees from the classification of “professional degrees” for purposes of federal loan forgiveness and related programs.
If enacted, this change would:
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Undermine recognition of nursing as a professional discipline
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Limit or remove access to student-loan forgiveness for advanced nursing degrees
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Discourage nurses—especially those in rural or underserved areas—from pursuing advanced education
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Strain an already fragile nursing pipeline
This proposal effectively devalues a profession that is widely regarded as the most trusted workforce in healthcare. As school nurses, many of us pursue advanced certification and graduate coursework to better support our students. Making advanced education financially burdensome harms recruitment, retention, and ultimately the quality of care students receive.
2. Potential Threats to IDEA and Section 504 Protections
NASN recently shared concerns about federal actions affecting the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). These actions may weaken oversight of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
For school nurses, this is especially alarming.
We are central to the implementation of health-related supports within IEPs and 504 plans. Weakening federal oversight could result in:
Students with diabetes, seizure disorders, asthma, mental-health needs, and other chronic conditions rely on strong IDEA/504 protections to safely access their education. Weakening these protections puts them—and us—in a precarious position.
Why Mississippi Nurses Must Speak Up
These national shifts could deeply affect school nursing in Mississippi. We already face challenges with staffing shortages, high caseloads, rural accessibility, and limited funding.
If nursing degrees lose their professional status and IDEA/504 oversight weakens, the consequences will be felt immediately in our schools.
We cannot afford to be silent.
A Thanksgiving Call to Action: Contact Your Legislators
During the break, I urge you to take a few minutes to call or email your federal legislators. Your perspective as a school nurse is powerful, and policymakers need to hear how these changes will affect real students in real Mississippi classrooms.
Consider sharing messages such as:
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“I am a school nurse in Mississippi, and I strongly oppose any federal change that removes nursing from the definition of ‘professional degree.’ This harms the nursing workforce and jeopardizes school health services.”
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“I am deeply concerned about actions that threaten oversight of IDEA and Section 504. These protections are essential for students with chronic and complex health needs.”
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“Please protect nursing education pathways and safeguard the rights of students with disabilities.”
You can also visit NASN’s Advocacy Action Center for tools to contact your representatives quickly and easily.
In Closing
As we step into this Thanksgiving break, please know how grateful I am for the work you do and the heart you bring to it. Our students depend on school nurses now more than ever. Standing together, informed and united, we can help protect our profession and the children we serve.
Wishing you a peaceful, restorative, and much-deserved Thanksgiving holiday.
Warm regards,
Stephanie Coker, BSN, RN, NCSN
Mississippi School Nurse