(The Center Square) – Advanced practice registered nurses in Wisconsin are now able to perform medical tasks that previously required a doctor or doctor’s assistant, all without supervision.
A bipartisan bill signed into law Friday by Gov. Tony Evers allows APRNs to write prescription orders, diagnose conditions, sign commitment papers, discharge patients, and perform other tasks independently.
The law also gives already practicing registered nurses in APRN roles a one-time path to the new credential, given that they complete an APRN education program and meet other criteria.
“Nurses play a critical role in our healthcare workforce, and I’m proud of our work to expand opportunities for nurses to not only grow their career but create a system that allows for more advanced practitioners here in Wisconsin,” Evers said.
Also, the bill provides a transitional provision that automatically grants APRN licenses to those who, by 2026, are already licensed as an RN in Wisconsin and practicing in one of the four recognized APRN roles while meeting additionally Nursing Board-determined criteria.
Some estimates have indicated that about 8,000 RNs in Wisconsin could qualify as APRNs, about 80% of whom are nurse practitioners, according to the bill’s co-authors.
Additionally, already-licensed APRNs could practice independently under the new law so long as they meet the specified requirements, including a minimum of 3,840 hours of work experience under the supervision of a physician or dentist.
“This milestone is the result of years of tireless advocacy and collaboration by nurses across the state–and we couldn’t have done it without the commitment and support of our members,” Wisconsin Nurses Association said in a statement.
Evers vetoed a previous version of the legislation last year, despite passing with bipartisan support, stating that it did not address some issues raised by physician groups.
Evers wrote in the veto message that he objected to “altering current licensure standards for APRNs, allowing practices functionally equivalent to those of physicians or potentially omitting physicians from a patient’s care altogether notwithstanding significant differences in required education, training, and expertise.”
The new bill, however, eliminated those concerns by not lowering the bar on APRN education, satisfying both the governor and lawmakers.
“We all agree that we need better access to health care. We all agree that folks should have access to quality health care. And we all agree that nurses should be able to practice to the top of their scope,” Rep. Lisa Subek, D-Madison, previously said. “And this is a bill that, at the end of the day, ensures that we can expand access to health care without compromising quality and I think that’s really key.”
