Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1545410
21 PATIENT & CAREGIVER EXPERIENCE 4 policy moves changing nursing in 2026 By Mariah Taylor N ew federal and state policies are shifting the nursing practice landscape. Here are four changes from the first four months of 2026: 1. On April 30, the Education Department finalized the Reimagining and Improving Student Education rule. The rule, effective July 1, carries out provisions from the Working Families Tax Cuts Act that cap federal loans for graduate and professional students. It also established formal definitions for "graduate student" and "professional student," which have implications for higher federal loan limits. Under the framework, healthcare fields, such as physician assistants and some advanced practice nurses, were classified as graduate programs, which have a lower annual loan cap of $20,500. Six nursing and physician associate associations said they were "profoundly dismayed" and "deeply concerned" by the Education Department's ruling to cap student loans and classify nursing and PA degrees as graduate degrees rather than professional degrees. This change limits borrowing to $100,000 for students in Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. 2. On April 6, Kansas legislators passed a law prohibiting the state's board of nursing from requiring college instructors to have credentials at least one level higher than the degree awarded in the program they teach. In addition, Kansas also revamped its nursing board with a new law. Under House Bill 2528, the definition of "unprofessional conduct" was tightened, all "non-practice" violations dating to 2025 were voided and the Kansas Board of Nursing can no longer fine nurses over license renewals. The law also calls for new board members, and that new members be confirmed by the Kansas Senate. 3. Nurse leaders raised safety concerns after the White House released a new national AI framework March 20 that omitted any mention of the profession or healthcare and how artificial intelligence is already being used in clinical care. The "National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence" outlined seven legislative priorities — from child safety to economic competitiveness — but did not reference nurses or the broader healthcare workforce. For nurse leaders, the concern reflects a broader risk that national AI policy may be shaped without the input of the clinicians most directly responsible for patient care. 4. New Jersey is the most recent state to eliminate certain practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses, allowing some to independently provide primary and behavioral healthcare services.n State Annual wage Hourly wage Cost of living index (2025) RN hourly mean wage, adjusted by cost of living New York $113,440 $54.54 125.1 $43.60 North Carolina $90,470 $43.50 97.8 $44.48 North Dakota $83,600 $40.19 91.4 $43.97 Ohio $87,730 $42.18 94.3 $44.73 Oklahoma $85,060 $40.90 86 $47.56 Oregon $123,140 $59.20 111.8 $52.95 Pennsylvania $94,020 $45.20 97.2 $46.50 Rhode Island $101,260 $48.68 110.6 $44.01 South Carolina $87,670 $42.15 94.7 $44.51 South Dakota $77,140 $37.09 91.9 $40.36 Tennessee $85,390 $41.05 90.3 $45.46 Texas $95,380 $45.86 92.1 $49.79 Utah $90,950 $43.72 102.2 $42.78 Vermont $96,650 $46.47 113.6 $40.91 Virginia $93,850 $45.12 100.8 $44.76 Washington $121,540 $58.43 114.1 $51.21 West Virginia $86,970 $41.81 88.3 $47.35 Wisconsin $94,690 $45.53 97.7 $46.60 Wyoming $88,600 $42.60 93.7 $45.46