I love the Op-Ed section of the paper. I believe we all need to write at least one letter on something we’re passionate about in our lifetime. In saying that, I applaud this reader

Re: “Keep nursing on the federal list of professional degrees” (Dec. 2, Opinion):

As Justin Gill, DNP, APRN, RN, president of the Washington State Nurses Association, so eloquently stated, “For the sake of Washington’s patients, families and future workforce, the education department must include nursing in the professional-degree designation …” before the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed rule is finalized.

During my career, I worked closely with graduate-prepared registered nurses in outpatient, inpatient hospital and emergency transport settings. They are the backbone of the U.S. health care system. The education required is enormous and expensive. Limiting federal loan access for these advanced practice programs will worsen the access to these programs and subsequently the availability of health care services. Furthermore, it is an insult to the nursing profession, especially after our experience relying on them so heavily during the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you to all RNs and to Justin Gill for alerting us to this federal proposed rule change.

Toni Long, Seattle