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You are receiving this update as a licensee of the Wisconsin Board of Nursing and/or as a subscriber to this communication.
Chair's Corner
By: Rob Weinman, RN, CCHP
Chairperson, Wisconsin Board of Nursing
Happy Nurse’s Month!
This month gives us the opportunity to not only recognize our peers and team members, but to also accept personal recognition for the amazing work that nurses do each and every day. This recognition goes far beyond the work you do at your place/s of employment. According to Johns Hopkins, Nursing has been voted as the most trusted profession - for the 22nd year in a row! I am proud to be a Nurse, humbled to represent you on the Board of Nursing, and extremely proud of the compassionate care you all deliver to patients day in and day out.
Given it’s Nurse’s Month, we are getting more recognition in the media and an overall increase in conversations relating to our profession. This is our chance to not only be deservingly recognized, but to also continue to promote our profession. The 2022 Nurse Workforce survey completed by NCSBN showed a dramatic loss of RN’s and LPN’s the past few years, a fact that I’m sure is not surprising to any of you. Even though the data shows the profession is starting to recover and nursing schools are seeing an increase in attendance, we have a way to go. So, my ask to you is to continue to be a positive role model, mentor new students and team members, and set the example for who the Nurse of today is. Do what you can, when you can, to support, promote, and engage in our profession. Be the Nurse that you would want taking care of you, your parent or child. Be part of the solution!
I wanted to share a bit from the National conferences I have recently attended. There is a lot of discussion surrounding artificial intelligence (A.I.) and how we can expect to see it deployed in healthcare in the near future. Admittedly, I was skeptical from the start and questioned the practicality of that kind of technology actually being effective in our complex industry. After listening to some of those discussions, and taking some time to reflect on how it can be implemented to supplement our Nursing skills and the work we do every day, you may consider me a converted believer. However, we need to think of A.I. as a “tool”; just like we do any other device or form of technology we use each day. It is not a replacement for the skills or knowledge we bring to our workplaces every day, but it can be used to augment those skills to improve patient outcomes and overall patient safety. Change and changing technology is scary – remember the doubt and uncertainty that was prevalent with the introduction of electronic medical records and automatic medical devices? We all know change is a constant in our field, and if leveraged correctly, has significant positive impact on the patients we care for.
Some examples of where artificial intelligence can augment the work of bedside clinicians, include:
- Rapidly generate nursing diagnoses, calculate patient fall risk predictions, and develop decision trees to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections;
- Clinical documentation solutions that can be used to analyze patient charts and identity opportunities for clarification, spot missing information, and point out coding discrepancies to ensure appropriate patient billing;
- Virtual health assistants who can educate patients and give the opportunity to answer questions, taking some of that workload off of nurses; and,
- Clinical decision support systems that can analyze a patient’s health data and support nurses through recommendations on treatment options and medication dosages.
Rule Review Wis. Admin. Code § 7.03(7):
7) Improper supervision or allowing unlicensed practice, including any of the following: (a) Delegating a nursing function or a prescribed health function when the delegation could reasonably be expected to result in unsafe or ineffective patient care. (b) Knowingly aiding, assisting, advising, or allowing a person to engage in the unlawful practice of nursing. (c) Inappropriate or inadequate supervision or delegation. (d) Failing to supervise assigned student experiences.
Have an amazing Nurses Month, celebrate yourselves, and have a great summer!
 Reference:
Martin, B., Kaminski-Ozturk, N., O'Hara, C., & Smiley, R. (2023). Examining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Burnout and Stress Among U.S. Nurses. Journal of nursing regulation, 14(1), 4–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2155-8256(23)00063-7
Board of Nursing Quick Links
Statute and Rules
BON Annual Reports
Agenda Materials/ Meeting Dates
Nursing School Information
Board of Nursing Best Practices for Prescribing Controlled Substances Guideline
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) Website
Amanda Kane APRN, FNP-C, ENP-C.
Each year in Wisconsin, over 8.8 million prescriptions for controlled substances are dispensed annually. Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers (APNP) are responsible for prescribing approximately 23% of all controlled substances in the state, including opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and gabapentin.
The WI ePDMP is a tool to help combat the ongoing prescription drug abuse epidemic in Wisconsin. By providing valuable information about monitored prescription drugs that are dispensed in the state, it aids healthcare professionals in prescribing and dispensing decisions. The tool also helps pharmacies, healthcare professions, law enforcement, and public health officials work together to reduce the abuse and misuse of monitored prescription drugs.
As of 2017, all prescribing practitioners are required to review the PDMP before prescribing any controlled substance for greater than a three-day supply, as indicated in CSB 4.105(1). Bimonthly, the Controlled Substances Board Referral Criteria Workgroup meets to review PDMP provider data for suspicious or critically dangerous conduct such as PDMP compliance issues, prescribing for high opioid daily dose (MME), prescribing high concurrent benzodiazepine and opioids, and flagging for providers with high patient volumes with multiple prescribers, pharmacies or early refills. Cases are then referred to the relevant board, including the Wisconsin Board of Nursing for further investigation. Consideration is given to providers referred that work in areas of high prescribing, including pain management.
Prescribers may check prescribing metrics by logging into their PDMP account and clicking ‘metrics.’ Per current 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Pain and Wisconsin Board of Nursing Best Practices for Prescribing Controlled Substances Guidelines (updated November 2023), literature shows diminished return for doses above 50 morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) per day. Avoid increasing to or maintaining dosage at or above 90 MME, as there is no evidence base to support efficacy and there is significant increased risk of adverse effects. Patients should not receive opioids prescriptions from multiple prescribers. There should be a dedicated provider such as a primary care or pain specialist prescribing all opioids used in treating a patient’s chronic pain.
Helpful links for controlled substance prescribing and PDMP information:
Board of Nursing Best Practices for Prescribing Controlled Substances Guidelines (updated November 2023)
Wisconsin PDMP training materials https://pdmp.wi.gov/training-materials
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John G. Anderson
Representatives from nearly every state in the nation and from Canada gathered for the 2024 Midyear Meeting of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) over the course of four days in March in Atlanta, Georgia. This was my second Midyear Meeting as a member of the Wisconsin Board of Nursing. Like last year's meeting in Seattle, I found the Atlanta Midyear Meeting to be quite informative and an excellent opportunity to meet nursing regulators from other parts of North America. It was also a pleasure to get to better know my board colleagues -Amanda Kane, Jenny Malek, and Rob Weinmann - who joined me in Atlanta.
Attendees of the Midyear Meeting include various players in nursing regulation, including state board members, board support staff, legal staff and NCSBN staff. As a public member of the Wisconsin Board of Nursing, I enjoyed a unique perspective at the various meetings. I find learning new things quite rewarding and believe me, as a public member, there is so much knowledge I gain from this annual gathering.
One thing I learned is the title of my position on other state boards of nursing. For many states, my position is called the 'Consumer Member' of the board. I think this more accurately reflects my role on the board and I believe the Wisconsin State Legislature and Governor should consider changing 'Public Member' to 'Consumer Member' in the state statutes where it would be appropriate.
Three things stood out to me at this year's Midyear Meeting. First, the presentation on the regulation, or more accurately, the absence of regulation, of supportive nursing personnel. This consumer of healthcare finds the lack of regulation of a growing population of support staff to be troubling and in need of attention from state policymakers. The second issue that intrigued me was fraud in nursing education. Operation Nightingale was a Department of Justice investigation of a scheme that allowed aspiring nurses to purchase fraudulent nursing degrees and transcripts. The challenge now is for state regulators to determine which nursing license applicants are on the various lists of those who knowingly or unknowingly obtained fraudulent degrees and/or transcripts. My third highlight of the conference was a brief talk by the newly appointed CEO of NCSBN, Phil Dickinson. Phil is a gregarious, knowledgeable, and entertaining speaker. Phil reminded us in a breakout session that the profession of nursing is all about 'The Moment'. The Moment is that connection made between nurse and patient, when the nurse conveys the compassion and expertise that allows the patient to be confident in the care he or she is getting.
From this experience in Atlanta, I am confident our state regulators, with the support of NCSBN, are fulfilling our directive to protect the healthcare consumers of Wisconsin.
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Board of Nursing Membership
The Board of Nursing consists of 9 members. The members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
Board Members:
Robert W. Weinman, Chairperson, Registered Nurse Member (Beaver Dam)
Vera Guyton, Vice Chairperson, Licensed Practical Nurse Member (Madison)
Janice A. Edelstein, Secretary, Registered Nurse Member (Omro)
John G. Anderson, Public Member (Madison)
Amanda K. Kane, Registered Nurse Member (Oshkosh)
Jennifer L. Malak, Registered Nurse Member (Oregon)
Patrick McNally, Licensed Practical Nurse Member (Elm Grove)
Shelly R Sabourin, Registered Nurse Member (Glendale)
Christian Saldivar Frias, Public Member (Milwaukee)
Information on how to apply for appointment to the Wisconsin Board of Nursing can be found through the Office of the Governor.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) Resource Links
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 440.03(13)(am), and N 7.03(1)(h), Wis. Admin. Code, it is a licensee's duty to notify the Board of Nursing of a felony or misdemeanor in writing within 48 hours after the entry of the judgment of conviction.
Conviction Self-Report
Enforcement Actions of the Board of Nursing
The Board of Nursing, with help from staff at the Department of Safety and Professional Services, can take action against nurses licensed in the state to help protect the profession and the citizens of Wisconsin. You may search for any of the Board Orders listed below on the Department’s Orders and Disciplinary Actions Website.
Board Orders
January 1, 2024 - April 30, 2024
A wealth of useful information is available on the Department of Safety and Professional Services website at: https://dsps.wi.gov/
Do you have a change of name or address?
Licensees can update name or address information by creating a support ticket and selecting Account Questions from the “I need assistance with” dropdown.
Please note that confirmation of changes is not automatically provided. Legal notices will be sent to a licensee’s address of record with the Department.
Legal notices will be sent to a licensee’s address of record with the Department. Under s. 440.01(1), Wis. Stats., an applicant or credential holder has 30 days to provide notification of a change in name or address. Similarly, under s. 440.11(1m)(a), Wis. Stats. an applicant for or recipient of a credential who changes his or her electronic mail address or whose current electronic mail address becomes inactive shall notify the department of such a change within 30 days of the change.
Telephone Directory:
Call the Department of Safety and Professional Services toll-free (877) 617-1565, or (608) 266-2112 in the Madison area to connect to the service you need.
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