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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
May brought a well-deserved spotlight to the nursing profession. It’s a time to recognize the impact nurses have across our communities and across the many settings where care is delivered every day.
This year, members of the Board were invited to share brief reflections on what inspires them or keeps them in the profession. Those reflections are included in this issue, and I hope you’ll take a moment to read them. They offer a simple but meaningful glimpse into the many reasons people continue to choose nursing.
Nursing is not an easy profession. It asks a great deal clinically, emotionally, and personally. It requires adaptability, sound judgment, and a steady commitment to others, often in moments that matter most. Much of that work happens without recognition, but its impact is felt every day by patients, families, and communities.
Roles in nursing may look different over time. Some remain in direct patient care, while others move into education, leadership, research, or policy. Regardless of the setting, the foundation remains the same - a commitment to providing safe, thoughtful, and high-quality care.
As Chair of the Board, I am mindful of the responsibility to uphold the standards of nursing practice and to protect the public we serve. That responsibility reflects the trust placed in the profession and reinforces the importance of accountability, professionalism, and continuous growth.
I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on your own path in nursing. What brought you here, and what has kept you here.
Nursing is not just a profession we enter. It is one many continue to choose, again and again.
 Jennifer Malak RN
Chairperson, Wisconsin Board of Nursing
Board Member Reflections: Why I am a Nurse...
"Being a nurse resonates with who I am at my core. I’ve always been someone who wants to help, solve problems, and care for others in a meaningful way. While I no longer provide direct hands-on care, leadership allows me to support patients and teams in a broader way by creating environments where nurses and care teams can do their best work. Nursing, in all its forms, continues to be deeply meaningful and soul-filling work for me."
-Jenny Malak, RN
"Being a Nurse and Nurse Practitioner means carrying the responsibility and privilege of providing advanced, compassionate care and clinical expertise when people need it most. Every day I get to blend my knowledge, clinical judgement and compassion to bring clarity, comfort and healing to patients and families during some of the most stressful moments of their lives."
-Amanda Kane, APNP
"I became a nurse because I wanted to work in a fast-paced environment where I could use clinical skills and compassionate care to support patients and families. I have now been a nurse for over twenty years and am proud to have chosen this profession."
-Patrick McNally, RN
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
2026 Midyear Meeting Recap
John Anderson, Public Member
The NCSBN 2026 Midyear Meeting focused on Evidence in Action. As a public member on the State’s Board of Nursing, I was particularly interested in a presentation at the conference that demonstrates evidence in action as it relates to The CARE ACT - Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable. More than 40 states have passed a version of The CARE ACT. Currently, Wisconsin does not have comparable legislation in place.
The CARE Act requires hospitals to identify a family caregiver, notify them of discharge, and provide instructions for home care tasks.
According to the National Institutes of Health, evidence demonstrates that The CARE ACT is working. Caregivers who are trained well on home care tasks dramatically improve patient outcomes by reducing preventable hospital readmissions. The CARE ACT facilitates better communication and supports caregivers during transitions from hospital to home. The job of nurses who provide in-home care is made much easier when the caregiver is well-trained at daily home care tasks.
The main points of The CARE ACT are:
- Hospitals must allow patients to designate a family caregiver upon admission.
- The facility must notify the caregiver when the patient is to be discharged or transferred.
- Hospitals must provide caregivers with instruction on necessary home medical tasks, such as medication management, wound care, or transfers.
Although this ACT isn’t directly related to a Board of Nursing regulatory issue, nurse delegation is. The Wisconsin Board of Nursing recently adopted CR 24-031 relating to delegated acts. As the Board continues to update the rules and regulations relating to the profession, we should focus on how our regulations and policies affect nursing actions and use evidence-based research to move our profession forward.
Interdisciplinary Advisory Committee Issues IV Hydration Guidance
Amanda Kane, APNP
The rapid rise of IV hydration therapy clinics has created a new frontier in consumer‑driven wellness—but also a complex regulatory landscape that directly impacts nursing practice. As more businesses offer walk‑in IV “cocktails” containing fluids, vitamins, amino acids and even prescription‑only additives, Wisconsin’s Department of Safety and Professional Services and multiple examining boards, including the Wisconsin Board of Nursing, have issued unified guidance to clarify what constitutes safe, legal, and ethical care. IV hydration therapy is not a retail service but a medical intervention requiring proper assessment, prescribing authority, and professional oversight. For nurses working in or considering roles within these clinics, understanding the boundaries of scope of practice and the expectations for patient assessment, monitoring, and documentation is essential to protecting both patient safety and professional licensure.
As this regulatory framework becomes more clearly defined, its impact on nursing practice comes sharply into focus. IV hydration clinics rely heavily on nurses for patient interaction, assessment support, and infusion management. The guidance makes clear that these responsibilities must remain within the nursing scope of practice. Understanding where nursing authority begins—and where it ends—is essential not only for maintaining patient safety but also for protecting licensure in a rapidly evolving care environment.
IV hydration therapy involves diagnosing, prescribing, and treating health conditions, which falls under the legal definition of practicing medicine. A patient must be clinically assessed before any IV therapy is ordered. The assessment and prescribed treatment must be initiated by a Physician, Physician Assistant or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (Nurse Practitioner, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Certified Nurse Midwife or Clinical Nurse Specialist). RNs may participate in the assessment process but cannot diagnose or prescribe. A legitimate patient‑practitioner relationship and individualized assessment must exist before using standing orders.
RNs and LPNs may administer IV hydration therapy only after a qualified prescriber has assessed the patient and issued an order. Nurses must:
- Stay strictly within their scope
- Avoid diagnosing or selecting IV treatments
- Monitor patients closely during infusion
- Document all nursing care
- Ensure sterile, safe handling of IV products
IV hydration therapy fluids and additives are prescription drugs requiring purchase and storage by a qualified practitioner which may include a physician, PA, or APRN. Fluids and additives must be purchased from FDA licensed manufacturers, distributors licensed in the state where they are being purchased, or from compounding pharmacies designated and licensed as 503B compounding facilities. All qualified practitioners must store prescription drugs in compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- If additives are mixed into IV fluids, this is considered drug compounding, which falls under pharmacy law and USP <797> sterile compounding standards.
- Nurses cannot compound IV solutions unless they are working under pharmacy standards and training. Even “immediate use” compounding does not exempt a facility from sterile technique requirements.
It is important to note that the IAC guidance does not include any new laws or rules, but clarifies how existing laws and rules apply. The document is available in its entirety at https://dsps.wi.gov/Documents/BoardCouncils/IAC/202510_IV-Hydration-Guidance-IAC.pdf
Preventing Nurse Suicide and Increasing Resilience
As we celebrated Wisconsin nurses in May, we wanted to provide you with this article from the American Nurses Association relating to nurse suicide prevention. Nurses across Wisconsin face a higher rate of suicide than the general population.
Preventing Nurse Suicide and Increasing Resilience | ANA
Disclaimer: The Wisconsin Board of Nursing does not endorse any program, resource or information referred to in this article.
APNP Work Update
As you know, Governor Evers signed the APRN bill - 2025 Wisconsin Act 17.
Under Act 17, anyone credentialed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) will have one or more recognized roles attached to their APRN credential:
- NP – Nurse Practitioner
- CRNA – Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
- CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist
- CNM – Certified Nurse Midwife
DSPS and the Wisconsin Board of Nursing are currently working on administrative rule and software updates to put the new law into effect. While that work is still in process, we want to share some information about current progress.
Impact
Current Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers (APNPs) will be changed to APRNs on September 1. You will keep the same license number and same registration code, and your current recognized role(s) will be reflected on your APRN credential.
If you are currently a Certified Nurse Midwife, the state will issue you an APRN credential with a CNM specialty on September 1. You will receive new license and registration numbers, and your current recognized role as a CNM will be reflected on your APRN license.
DSPS will be sending an email to current APNPs and CNMs listing their certification as an NP, CNS, CRNA, or CNM and the sub-specialty we have in our records. If certification needs to be updated, this email will include directions to have the national certifying organization send a confirmation document to DSPS. Act 17 includes documentation requirements:
- APRN-CNMs will need to submit a Board-approved proactive plan prior to assisting with births outside of a hospital.*
- APRN-NP, CRNA or CNS who intend to work without supervision will need to submit documentation.*
- APRN-NP, CRNA or CNS who collaborate with a physician will not need to submit documentation but will need a current collaboration agreement that reflects the new APRN credential.
*We will provide more information about required documents in a subsequent update.
Timing
DSPS will still accept APNP applications prior to August 1, 2026. If the application is approved prior to August 31, 2026, the credential will automatically convert to an APRN on September 1, 2026.
DSPS will start taking APRN applications on August 1, 2026. The agency will start issuing APRN credentials on or after September 1, 2026.
More Information
If you need to update your DEA registration with a new credential title or license number, go to CSA Registration Tools: Login.
DSPS and the Board of Nursing are still working on some implementation details. We will provide further updates in the near future.
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 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:
Jennifer L. Malak, Chairperson, Registered Nurse Member (Oregon)
Amanda K. Kane, Vice Chairperson, Registered Nurse Member (Oshkosh)
Patrick McNally, Secretary, Registered Nurse Member (Elm Grove)
John G. Anderson, Public Member (Madison)
Sarah L. Brzozowski, Registered Nurse Member (Madison)
Tina M. DeGroot, Registered Nurse Member (Stoughton)
Craig E. Reinbold, Registered Nurse Member (Wauwatosa)
Christian Saldivar Frias, Public Member (Milwaukee)
Vacancies - Licensed Practical Nurse Member (1)
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 on the Department’s Orders and Disciplinary Actions Website.
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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