SB 497

Nursing practice and licensure

This bill makes various changes to practice, licensure, and certification

requirements for nurses, which are administered by the Board of Nursing.

Licensure of advanced practice registered nurses

Under current law, a person who wishes to practice professional nursing must

be licensed by the Board of Nursing as a registered nurse (RN). This bill creates an

additional system of licensure for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), to

be administered by the board. Under the bill, in order to apply for an APRN license,

a person must 1) hold, or concurrently apply for, an RN license, 2) have completed

an accredited graduate-level or postgraduate-level education program preparing

the person to practice as an APRN in one of four recognized roles, and 3) pay a fee

set by the Department of Safety and Professional Services. The bill also allows a

person who has not completed an accredited education program described above to

receive an APRN license if the person 1) on January 1, 2017, was both licensed as an

RN in Wisconsin and practicing in one of the four recognized roles and 2) satisfies

additional practice or education criteria established by the board. The four

recognized roles, as defined in the bill, are 1) certified nurse-midwife, 2) certified

registered nurse anesthetist, 3) clinical nurse specialist, and 4) nurse practitioner.

The bill also requires the board, upon granting a person an APRN license, to also

grant the person one or more endorsements corresponding to the recognized role or

roles for which the person qualifies. The holder of an APRN license may append the

title “A.P.R.N." to his or her name, as well as a title corresponding to whichever

endorsements that the person possesses.

The bill prohibits any person from using the title “A.P.R.N.," and from otherwise

indicating that he or she is an APRN, unless the person is licensed by the board as

an APRN. The bill also prohibits the use of titles and abbreviations corresponding

to a recognized role unless the person has an endorsement for that role. Under the

bill, when an APRN renews his or her APRN license, the board must grant the person

the renewal of both the person's RN license and the person's APRN license. The bill

requires an APRN to complete continuing education requirements in clinical

pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to the APRN's area of practice, including a

minimum number of hours regarding best practices in prescribing controlled

substances. The bill also requires an APRN, when applying for a license or license

renewal or upon request of the board, to submit to the board evidence that he or she

has in effect malpractice liability insurance coverage in the minimum amounts

required by the rules of the board.

Practice of nurse-midwifery

This bill repeals licensure and practice requirements specific to

nurse-midwives and the practice of nurse-midwifery, including specific

requirements to practice with an obstetrician and maintain malpractice insurance.