Nurses in 2026 are navigating a profession that is transforming faster than ever before. To help regulatory boards and healthcare leaders stay ahead, Propelus® recently hosted a deep-dive webinar featuring Nicole Livanos, director of government affairs at the NCSBN, and our own Kelly Parker, vice president of external affairs and government excellence.
From the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the expansion of licensure compacts, the discussion highlighted how regulation is being redefined to meet the needs of a modern workforce while keeping public protection at the core. Here are 5 key takeaways from our webinar.
1. Strengthening the workforce pipeline
With 46 states in legislative session this year, a primary focus remains on the “nursing lifecycle.” Nicole emphasized that policy is shifting from just filling vacancies to a holistic approach:
- Education incentives: increasing support for students entering nursing programs.
- Clinical access: ensuring students have enough preceptors and clinical sites to graduate on time.
- Retention and well-being: supporting safe working conditions and work-life balance to keep seasoned nurses in the profession.
2. The urgent federal loan crisis
A major “call to action” emerged regarding a discussion around the U.S. Department of Education’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to implement changes to federal student loan programs enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). The proposal establishes formal definitions of “professional student” and “professional degree” programs to determine federal loan eligibility and borrowing limits.
The current proposal excludes post-baccalaureate and doctoral nursing degrees from the definition of “professional degrees.”
The Risk: If this stands, it could greatly impact the supply of nurses, including nursing faculty and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), by limiting their access to necessary student loans. The community is urged to submit comments before the March 2nd deadline.
3. AI: Guardrails, not just innovation
AI is no longer a “future” concept; it is actively being legislated.
- Federal framework: The federal government is continuing to support a national AI policy framework and a newly filed bill would create a study on AI in healthcare. However, federal activity has not slowed momentum at the state level, where numerous AI-related bills are being introduced across the country.
- Title protection: States like Washington are passing bills to prohibit AI from using nursing titles or credentials.
- Disciplinary standards: In Illinois, proposed laws would make substituting AI for critical nursing assessments grounds for discipline.
- Transparency: New regulations may soon require written patient consent before AI is used for documentation or care delivery.
4. The evolution of licensure mobility
The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is entering its 26th year with 43 jurisdictions now participating. Livanos noted that the trend of moving toward “tele-everything,” from tele-ICU to remote monitoring, makes the NLC more vital than ever.
- Interstate practice: Roughly 45% of nurses have provided care across state lines in the last two years.
- Uniformity is key: The biggest hurdle for nurses isn’t just the license; it’s the varying Nurse Practice Acts. The more states align their scope-of-practice laws, the safer and more seamless care becomes.
5. Prioritizing nurse wellbeing to strengthen retention
Nurse burnout continues to challenge healthcare systems nationwide, and meaningful change is beginning at the regulatory level.
Currently, about eight Boards of Nursing have removed stigmatizing mental health questions from licensure applications. This is an important step that reduces fear around seeking care and reinforces that accessing mental health support is not a career risk. Even with just eight boards making this change, thousands of nurses are positively impacted. These boards have earned “Wellbeing First Champion” designations, signaling a broader commitment to supporting the nurse on every level, including emotionally, psychologically, and professionally.
The bottom line
As Parker noted, “A regulator’s job is never done.” At Propelus, our mission is to move beyond simply reacting to the crises of the day. We are dedicated to building a proactive, evidence-based framework that truly supports the people behind the license. By modernizing regulation, we empower nurses to practice at their full potential while protecting the well-being and passion that brought them to this profession in the first place.
Want to hear the full conversation? Watch the on-demand webinar here to catch every insight from Nicole Livanos and Kelly Parker.