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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 May to all of you. And with May we know it is also Nurses Month! Thank you so much for what you do for our community, for our patients, for our loved ones. The work you do is remarkable, needed, and based on the trust the community has in you. In years past I have always brought up the statistic that Nursing is the most trusted profession among the public - and to no surprise, for the 23rd year in a row, nursing ranks at the top of the most trusted profession according to Gallup’s annual Most Honest and Ethical Professions Poll1. There is a reason that for 23 years the public has chosen nurses to be in the lead. Every day the choices you make may be a life-or-death decision. Every day you impact patients, their families, and our communities as a whole. I am proud to serve on the Board of Nursing, serve the public, and serve all of the great nurses in the State of Wisconsin. As always, please spread the word about what you do. Engage people from all walks of life about our profession and the differences you can make daily in someone’s life.
I recently had the opportunity to attend a discipline case management conference hosted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The group was able to review many cases, some very unusual, to see how other states and the national body govern some situations. A part that I took away from it, that I want to share, is the ability for nurses to seek help from their respective Boards of Nursing. As outlined above, this is an amazing profession but also can come with a variety of stressors. The Wisconsin Board of Nursing has a program called the Professional Assistance Procedure2. The link is at the bottom of this letter, and it is easily found on the Board of Nursing webpage, part of the DSPS website, under related links. A very general overview of this program, if a nurse has a substance use disorder issue, the Board is here to help. This program allows the nurse to continue to practice while getting the help they need to overcome whatever may be in front of them. Also, of note, this is a non-disciplinary track, and the information is not published. If you or someone you know could benefit from this program, please do not hesitate to take a look at the website and reach out with any questions. At this discipline conference, it was noted that many states have this program and report an excellent outcome in most cases, preserving the career and life of the nurse, and also following the duty of every Board to protect the public.
Rule Review-
N 7.03(6)(d)- Failing to report to or leaving a nursing assignment without properly notifying appropriate supervisory personnel and ensuring the safety and welfare of the patient or client.
As a reviewing member for complaints submitted to the Board, this is an issue I see often. Nurses may have a variety of issues for quitting a job which I will not delve into here. However, remember the patients that may be affected by this action and the consequences this could have on the health of the patient(s). You have a duty as a nurse to ensure the safety and welfare of those under your care. Please understand all the consequences that could come with a nurse walking off the job without proper relief and/or notifying a supervisor.
 Sources:
- https://nursing.jhu.edu/magazine/articles/2025/01/nursing-named-most-trusted-profession-for-23rd-consecutive-year/
- https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/SelfService/ProfessionalAssistanceProcedure.aspx
Board of Nursing Quick Links
Statute and Rules
Agenda Materials/ Meeting Dates
Nursing School Information
Board of Nursing Best Practices for Prescribing Controlled Substances Guideline
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) Website
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services is the first multi-occupation licensing agency in the country to offer a downloadable digital license for its credential holders. Now, Wisconsin occupational license holders can carry their credentials wherever they go.
DSPS partnered with Tyler Technologies to allow license holders the convenience of carrying proof of licensure on their phone. The Digital Wallet Card is free for professionals licensed through the department and is an additional option to a printed copy of the license.
Medical Examining Board Vice Chair, Sumeet Goel, shared a story in a recent Board meeting that highlighted the convenience and importance of a digital license.
“I was on a flight when a few passengers alerted the flight attendant that the person sitting next to them seemed to have had a seizure. He asked if any passengers were able to help and I let him know I was a primary care physician. I was asked to show a copy of my medical license in order to access the medication box on the flight, which I did not have,” said Goel, adding that, fortunately, medication was not needed in the end.
To download a digital copy of their credential, license holders can simply log into their LicensE account from their cell phone, and in just a couple steps download a copy of their credential to their Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, just as they might add a concert or plane ticket.
DSPS has posted on its website a simple guide for downloading a Digital Wallet Card.
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)
Jennifer L. Malak, Vice Chairperson, Registered Nurse Member (Oregon)
Patrick McNally, Secretary, Licensed Practical Nurse Member (Elm Grove)
John G. Anderson, Public Member (Madison)
Vera Guyton, Licensed Practical Nurse Member (Madison)
Amanda K. Kane, Registered Nurse Member (Oshkosh)
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
December 16, 2024 - April 30, 2025
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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