⚖️ The Invisible Hierarchy: Why PT and Nursing Still Aren’t Considered “Professional Degrees” — and Why That Needs to Change
Physical therapists and nurses are trusted with lives, autonomy, and complex clinical decision-making—yet remain excluded from the “professional degree” classification in U.S. education policy. This invisible hierarchy shapes pay, policy, prestige, and power in ways most clinicians never see but feel every day. This reflection explores how outdated definitions quietly reinforce inequity in healthcare—and why redefining professional status isn’t about ego, but about agency, respect, and the future of care.