ABOHN

06/04/2026

For more information: https://secure.apha.org/IMIS/APHAPAI/

06/02/2026

What the OBBBA Means for Advanced Nursing Education and Workforce Development


Dear AAOHN Members,

As many of you are aware, the federal government has recently enacted the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), which will take effect on July 1, 2026.

This legislation introduced a significant change in the classification of advanced nursing degrees and presents serious implications for the future of the nursing profession.


Changes to Degree Classification

Under this new law, graduate nursing programs are removed from the official designation of “professional degrees” and reclassified alongside general graduate programs. This shift substantially diminishes the recognition of the advanced, specialized education required of advanced practice nurses.


Financial Impact on Graduate Nursing Education

As a result of this reclassification, financial support for nurses pursuing graduate degrees will be severely reduced:

Significant Loan Limitations: Federal unsubsidized loans for graduate nursing students are now capped at $20,000 per year and a $100,000 lifetime maximum.

Disparity Across Health Professions: Physicians, dentists, and veterinarians retain their professional degree status and continue to have access to $50,000 per year and more than $200,000 in lifetime federal loan funding.

Elimination of Graduate PLUS Loans: Graduate PLUS loans will no longer be available to nursing students.


Consequences for the Workforce

These changes will force aspiring masters prepared OHNs, Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), and other doctoral nursing students to rely on high-interest private loans or personal resources to complete their education. Treating advanced nursing education differently from other clinical professions undermines the value of nursing expertise, restricts career advancement for nurses, and exacerbates existing shortages in primary care and anesthesia services nationwide. It will also greatly impact the next generation of nurses by making it harder to become a professor of nursing, which will exacerbate the already problematic shortage of nursing instructors.

Recently, bipartisan legislation was introduced in the House:

H.R. 8691 Nursing is a Professional Degree Act which would amend the current list of professional degrees to include MSN, MSN, DNP, DNAP, or Ph.D. in nursing.

The bipartisan bill in the Senate is: S. 4568 - A bill to amend the definition of professional student in the Higher Education Act of 1965.

If you support nurses having access to professional degree graduate school federal loans, we ask that you contact your legislators to either thank them or ask them to support this new bipartisan legislation in the House and Senate.

05/25/2026

05/24/2026

The ABOHN committees met in person from Wednesday, 4/29/26, through Friday, 5/1/26, where they conducted a comprehensive review of all examination items scheduled for inclusion on the examination forms to be published in September 2026. In addition, newly developed items were evaluated for pre-testing, and the existing item banks were carefully reviewed to ensure continued quality, relevance, and alignment with current professional standards.

This effort brought together an exceptional group of OHN professionals whose expertise, insight, and dedication to the field were evident throughout the process. It was truly an honor to work alongside such a knowledgeable and committed group.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all ABOHN EDAC members for their time, thoughtful contributions, and ongoing commitment to maintaining the integrity and excellence of our credentialing programs. Their work is essential to ensuring that our examinations remain rigorous, fair, and reflective of current practice!

05/23/2026

For more information: https://cohse.umich.edu/event/2026-updates-in-occupational-health-nursing-virtual/

05/22/2026

A Nurse's Guide to A Career in

Occupational Health & Safety

“A Nurse’s Guide to a Career in Occupational Health & Safety” written by ABOHN certified OHN and exam development advisory committee member (EDAC), Saniese Green Pitterson, RN, BSN, COHN-S, available now for purchase!

This guide is meant for new and seasoned RNs who would like to transition into a career in Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S). It covers the professional experiences that strengthen transition into OH&S, recommended certifications to boost qualifications, strategic networking advice, resume and interviewing tips, and key steps for building a successful Occupational Health and Safety program!

For more information: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FF37DFK7?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_apin_dp_EAMKMPHXK9RVPT0Q45YB_1&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_apin_dp_EAMKMPHXK9RVPT0Q45YB_1&bestFormat=true

Please note: ABOHN cannot endorse nor recommend any course, class, or educational material. While this book may be of interest to readers, nothing in this message should be construed as professional advice or an endorsement of the content.

This guide was written for new and season RNs who would like to transition in a career in Occupational Health and Safety. It covers the professional experiences that strengthen your transition into OH&S, recommended certifications to boost your qualifications, strategic networking advice, resume ...

05/12/2026

ABOHN Executive Director, Betty Sanisidro, and Board of Directors members, Lori Burke and Susan Jordan, were proud to attend the 2026 national conference hosted by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN), where they had the opportunity to exhibit with energy and enthusiasm.

It was a valuable opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the country, share insights, and highlight the important work being done to advance occupational and environmental health nursing. We appreciated the engaging conversations, thoughtful questions, and the chance to collaborate with so many dedicated professionals.

Dr. Sanisidro also presented “Seal the Deal: The Power of Specialty Certification”, sat as a panel expert during the first time attendee session, and presented during the panel presentation “Strengthening Our Profession: A Panel on OHN Certification and Review Course Success”!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, attended the sessions, and contributed to such a dynamic and inspiring event! We look forward to continuing the conversation and building on the momentum from this conference!

05/11/2026

ABOHN proudly presents the 2025 Award Winners!

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day from your friends at ABOHN!