AB257: Bill Text

AB257,46,9 4. The applicant provides to the board evidence of any malpractice liability insurance coverage required under sub. (5).

AB257,46,11 5. If the applicant is applying to receive a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation under par. (b) 1., the applicant does all of the following:

AB257,46,13 a. Provides evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is currently certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board or its successor.

AB257,46,14 b. Files with the board any plan required under sub. (3m) (f).

AB257,46,16 6. The applicant does not have an arrest or conviction record, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335.

AB257,46,19 7. The applicant meets any other criteria established by the board by rule under sub. (6) (a) 3. relating to the education, training, or experience required for each recognized role.

AB257,47,2 (b) 1. a. Subject to subd. 3. and s. 441.07 (1g), the board shall grant an advanced practice registered nurse license to an applicant the board determines meets the requirements under par. (a). The board shall also grant a person who is granted a license under this subd. 1. a. one or more specialty designations corresponding to the recognized roles for which the board determines that the person qualifies based on the person’s qualifications under par. (a).

AB257,47,8 b. The board shall grant an advanced practice registered nurse license to each individual who, on the day before the effective date of this subd. 1. b. .... [LRB inserts date], was certified to issue prescription orders under s. 441.16, 2023 stats. The board shall also grant a person who is granted a license under this subd. 1. b. one or more specialty designations corresponding to the recognized roles for which the board determines that the person qualifies based on the person’s qualifications.

AB257,47,13 c. The board shall grant an advanced practice registered nurse license to each individual who, on the day before the effective date of this subd. 1. c. .... [LRB inserts date], was licensed as a nurse-midwife under s. 441.15, 2023 stats. The board shall also grant a person who is granted a license under this subd. 1. c. a nurse-midwife specialty designation.

AB257,47,15 2. Each specialty designation granted under subd. 1. shall appear on the person’s advanced practice registered nurse license.

AB257,47,18 3. The board may not grant an advanced practice registered nurse license to a person applying concurrently for a license under s. 441.06 (1), (1c), or (1m), unless the board also grants the person the license under s. 441.06 (1), (1c), or (1m).

AB257,47,20 4. The board may place specific limitations on a person licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse as a condition of licensure.

AB257,47,23 5. If all of the following apply to a person, a notation indicating that the person may not issue prescription orders shall appear on the person’s advanced practice registered nurse license:

AB257,48,3 a. The person is granted an advanced practice registered nurse license under subd. 1. a. and satisfies only par. (a) 2. b. but not par. (a) 2. a., or the person is granted an advanced practice registered nurse license under subd. 1. c.

AB257,48,5 b. On January 1, 2026, the person did not hold a certificate under s. 441.16 (2), 2023 stats.

AB257,48,19 (c) On or before the applicable renewal date specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), an advanced practice registered nurse shall submit to the board on a form furnished by the board a statement giving his or her name and residence, the nursing workforce survey and fee required under s. 441.01 (7), evidence of having satisfied the continuing education requirements under sub. (4), evidence of any malpractice liability insurance coverage required under sub. (5), any plan required under sub. (3m) (f), current evidence that the person satisfies each of the requirements under par. (a) 1., 2., 5. a., and 7. that apply with respect to the person, and any other information that the board requires by rule, with the applicable renewal fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). The board shall grant to a person who satisfies the requirements under this paragraph the renewal of his or her advanced practice registered nurse license and specialty designations granted under par. (b) 1. and shall, if the person holds a license under s. 441.06 (1), (1c), or (1m), also grant the renewal of that license.

AB257,48,23 (2) Prescribing authority. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), an advanced practice registered nurse may issue prescription orders, subject to the rules promulgated under sub. (6) (a) 1. and 4., and may provide expedited partner therapy in the manner described in s. 441.092.

AB257,49,4 (b) An advanced practice registered nurse may not issue prescription orders if a notation under sub. (1) (b) 5. indicating that the advanced practice registered nurse may not issue prescription orders appears on the advanced practice registered nurse’s license.

AB257,49,8 (3) License required; use of titles. (a) 1. The holder of a license issued under this section is an “advanced practice registered nurse,” may append to his or her name the title “A.P.R.N.,” and is authorized to practice advanced practice registered nursing.

AB257,49,11 2. The holder of a specialty designation for a recognized role granted under sub. (1) (b) 1. may append to his or her name the title and an abbreviation corresponding to that recognized role.

AB257,49,16 (b) 1. Except as provided in sub. (3m) (e) and s. 257.03, no person may practice or attempt to practice advanced practice registered nursing, nor use the title “advanced practice registered nurse,” the title “A.P.R.N.,” or anything else to indicate that he or she is an advanced practice registered nurse unless he or she is licensed under this section.

AB257,49,17 2. Except as provided in s. 257.03, no person may do any of the following:

AB257,49,20 a. Use the title “certified nurse-midwife,” the title “C.N.M.,” or anything else to indicate that he or she is a certified nurse-midwife unless he or she has been granted a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation under sub. (1) (b) 1.

AB257,50,2 b. Use the title “certified registered nurse anesthetist,” the title “C.R.N.A.,” or anything else to indicate that he or she is a certified registered nurse anesthetist unless he or she has been granted a certified registered nurse anesthetist specialty designation under sub. (1) (b) 1.

AB257,50,5 c. Use the title “clinical nurse specialist,” the title “C.N.S.,” or anything else to indicate that he or she is a clinical nurse specialist unless he or she has been granted a clinical nurse specialist specialty designation under sub. (1) (b) 1.

AB257,50,8 d. Use the title “nurse practitioner,” the title “N.P.,” or anything else to indicate that he or she is a nurse practitioner unless he or she has been granted a nurse practitioner specialty designation under sub. (1) (b) 1.

AB257,50,12 (3m) Practice requirements and limitations. (a) 1. An advanced practice registered nurse licensed under this section may, except as provided in subd. 2. and par. (b), practice advanced practice registered nursing only in collaboration with a physician or dentist.

AB257,50,14 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply to an advanced practice registered nurse with a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation.

AB257,50,20 (b) An advanced practice registered nurse to whom par. (a) 1. applies may, except as provided in pars. (bg) 1. and (c), practice advanced practice registered nursing in a recognized role without being supervised by or collaborating with, and independent of, a physician or dentist if the board verifies, upon application of the advanced practice registered nurse, that the advanced practice registered nurse satisfies all of the following:

AB257,51,3 1. The advanced practice registered nurse has completed 3,840 hours of professional nursing in a clinical setting. Clinical hours completed as a requirement of a nursing program offered by a qualifying school of nursing under s. 441.06 (1) (c) may be used to satisfy the requirement under this subdivision. Hours completed to satisfy a requirement of an education program described in sub. (1) (a) 2. a. may not be used to satisfy the requirement under this subdivision.

AB257,51,6 2. At least 24 months have elapsed since the advanced practice registered nurse first began completing the clinical hours required by a nursing program described under subd. 1.

AB257,51,15 3. The advanced practice registered nurse has completed 3,840 clinical hours of advanced practice registered nursing practice in that recognized role while working with a physician or dentist who was immediately available for consultation and accepted responsibility for the actions of the advanced practice registered nurse during those 3,840 hours of practice. The advanced practice registered nurse may substitute additional hours of advanced practice registered nursing working with a physician or dentist described under this subdivision to count toward the requirement under subd. 1. Each such additional hour shall count toward one hour of the requirement under subd. 1.

AB257,51,18 4. At least 24 months have elapsed since the advanced practice registered nurse first began practicing advanced practice registered nursing in that recognized role as described under subd. 3.

AB257,51,22 (bd) For purposes of par. (b) 3., hours of advanced practice registered nursing practice may include the lawful practice of advanced practice registered nursing outside this state or the lawful practice of advanced practice registered nursing in this state prior to the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].

AB257,52,5 (bg) 1. An advanced practice registered nurse may provide treatment of pain syndromes, as defined in s. 50.60 (5), through the use of invasive techniques only while working in a collaborative relationship with a physician who, through education, training, and experience, specializes in pain management. Except as provided in subd. 2., this subdivision applies regardless of whether the advanced practice registered nurse has qualified for independent practice under par. (b).

AB257,52,10 2. Except as provided in par. (c), subd. 1. does not apply to an advanced practice registered nurse who is providing treatment of pain syndromes, as defined in s. 50.60 (5), through the use of invasive techniques in a hospital, as defined in s. 50.33 (2), or in a clinic associated with a hospital, and who has qualified for independent practice under par. (b).

AB257,52,15 3. Except as provided in par. (c), subd. 1. does not apply to an advanced practice registered nurse who has qualified for independent practice under par. (b) and has privileges in a hospital, as defined in s. 50.33 (2), to provide treatment of pain syndromes, as defined in s. 50.60 (5), through the use of invasive techniques without a collaborative relationship with a physician.

AB257,52,21 (bm) For purposes of pars. (a) 1. and (bg) 1., a collaborative relationship is a process in which an advanced practice registered nurse is working with a physician or dentist, in each other’s presence when necessary, to deliver health care services within the scope of the advanced practice registered nurse’s training, education, and experience. The advanced practice registered nurse shall document such a collaborative relationship.

AB257,53,2 (c) Nothing in this section prohibits an entity employing or with a relationship with an advanced practice registered nurse from establishing additional requirements for an advanced practice registered nurse as a condition of employment or relationship.

AB257,53,8 (d) An advanced practice registered nurse shall adhere to professional standards when managing situations that are beyond the advanced practice registered nurse’s expertise. If a particular patient’s needs are beyond the advanced practice registered nurse’s expertise, the advanced practice registered nurse shall, as warranted by the patient’s needs, consult or collaborate with or refer the patient to at least one of the following:

AB257,53,9 1. A physician licensed under ch. 448.

AB257,53,12 2. Another health care provider for whom the advanced practice registered nurse has reasonable evidence of having a scope of practice that includes the authorization to address the patient’s needs.

AB257,53,19 (e) An advanced practice registered nurse licensed under this section may delegate a task or order to another clinically trained health care worker if the task or order is within the scope of the advanced practice registered nurse’s practice, the advanced practice registered nurse is competent to perform the task or issue the order, and the advanced practice registered nurse has reasonable evidence that the health care worker is minimally competent to perform the task or issue the order under the circumstances.

AB257,54,6 (f) An advanced practice registered nurse with a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation may not offer to deliver babies outside of a hospital setting unless the advanced practice registered nurse files with the board, and the board approves, a proactive plan for ensuring appropriate care or care transitions conforming with professional standards for patients with higher acuity or emergency care needs that exceed the advanced practice registered nurse’s scope of practice. An advanced practice registered nurse who offers to deliver babies outside of a hospital setting shall file a plan under this paragraph when applying for an initial license under this section or a renewal of a license under this section, shall keep the plan current with the board, and shall follow the plan.

AB257,54,11 (4) Continuing education. Every advanced practice registered nurse shall submit to the board evidence of having completed at least 16 contact hours per biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to the advanced practice registered nurse’s area of practice. The board may promulgate rules regarding the continuing education requirements under this subsection.

AB257,54,21 (5) Malpractice liability insurance. No person may practice advanced practice registered nursing unless he or she at all times has in effect malpractice liability insurance coverage evidenced by personal liability coverage in the amounts specified for health care providers under s. 655.23 (4) or coverage under a group liability policy providing individual coverage for the person in the amounts specified under s. 655.23 (4). An advanced practice registered nurse shall submit evidence of that coverage to the board when applying for an initial license under this section or a renewal of a license under this section. An advanced practice registered nurse shall also submit such evidence to the board upon request of the board.

AB257,54,23 (6) Rules. (a) The board shall promulgate rules necessary to administer this section, including rules for all of the following:

AB257,55,5 1. Further defining the scope of practice of an advanced practice registered nurse, practice of a certified nurse-midwife, practice of a certified registered nurse anesthetist, practice of a nurse practitioner, and practice of a clinical nurse specialist and defining the scope of practice within which an advanced practice registered nurse may issue prescription orders under sub. (2).

AB257,55,7 2. Determining acceptable national certification for purposes of sub. (1) (a) 2. a.

AB257,55,11 3. Establishing the appropriate education, training, or experience requirements that a registered nurse must satisfy in order to be an advanced practice registered nurse and to obtain each specialty designation corresponding to the recognized roles.

AB257,55,13 4. Specifying the classes of drugs, individual drugs, or devices that may not be prescribed by an advanced practice registered nurse under sub. (2).

AB257,55,14 5. Specifying the conditions to be met for registered nurses to do the following:

AB257,55,15 a. Administer a drug prescribed by an advanced practice registered nurse.

AB257,55,16 b. Administer a drug at the direction of an advanced practice registered nurse.

AB257,55,18 6. Establishing standards of professional conduct for advanced practice registered nurses generally and for practicing in each recognized role.

AB257,55,19 (am) The board may promulgate rules to implement sub. (3m) (b).

AB257,55,22 (b) The board may not promulgate rules that expand the scope of practice of an advanced practice registered nurse beyond the practices within advanced practice registered nursing.

AB257,117 Section 117. 441.092 of the statutes is created to read:

AB257,56,1 441.092 Expedited partner therapy. (1) In this section:

AB257,56,2 (b) “Antimicrobial drug” has the meaning given in s. 448.035 (1) (b).

AB257,56,3 (c) “Expedited partner therapy” has the meaning given in s. 448.035 (1) (c).

AB257,56,15 (2) Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 448.9785, an advanced practice registered nurse who may issue prescription orders under s. 441.09 (2) may provide expedited partner therapy if a patient is diagnosed as infected with a chlamydial infection, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis and the patient has had sexual contact with a sexual partner during which the chlamydial infection, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis may have been transmitted to or from the sexual partner. The advanced practice registered nurse shall attempt to obtain the name of the patient’s sexual partner. A prescription order for an antimicrobial drug prepared under this subsection shall include the name and address of the patient’s sexual partner, if known. If the advanced practice registered nurse is unable to obtain the name of the patient’s sexual partner, the prescription order shall include, in ordinary, bold- faced capital letters, the words, “expedited partner therapy” or the letters “EPT.”

AB257,56,19 (3) The advanced practice registered nurse shall provide the patient with a copy of the information sheet prepared by the department of health services under s. 46.03 (44) and shall request that the patient give the information sheet to the person with whom the patient had sexual contact.

AB257,57,2 (4) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), an advanced practice registered nurse is immune from civil liability for injury to or the death of a person who takes any antimicrobial drug if the antimicrobial drug is prescribed, dispensed, or furnished under this section and if expedited partner therapy is provided as specified under this section.

AB257,57,6 (b) The immunity under par. (a) does not extend to the donation, distribution, furnishing, or dispensing of an antimicrobial drug by an advanced practice registered nurse whose act or omission involves reckless, wanton, or intentional misconduct.

AB257,118 Section 118. 441.10 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB257,57,21 441.10 (7) No license is required for practical nursing, but, except as provided in s. 257.03, no person without a license may hold himself or herself out as a licensed practical nurse or licensed attendant, use the title or letters “Trained Practical Nurse” or “T.P.N.”, “Licensed Practical Nurse” or “L.P.N.”, “Licensed Attendant” or “L.A.”, “Trained Attendant” or “T.A.”, or otherwise seek to indicate that he or she is a licensed practical nurse or licensed attendant. No licensed practical nurse or licensed attendant may use the title, or otherwise seek to act as a registered, licensed, graduate or professional nurse. Anyone violating this subsection shall be subject to the penalties prescribed by s. 441.13. The board shall grant without examination a license as a licensed practical nurse to any person who was on July 1, 1949, a licensed attendant. This subsection does not apply to any licensed practical nurse who holds a multistate license, as defined in s. 441.51 (2) (h), issued by a jurisdiction, other than this state, that has adopted the nurse licensure compact under s. 441.51.

AB257,119 Section 119. 441.11 (title) of the statutes is repealed.

AB257,120 Section 120. 441.11 (1) of the statutes is repealed.

AB257,121 Section 121. 441.11 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 441.09 (5m) and amended to read:

AB257,58,8 441.09 (5m) Licensure exemption. The provisions of s. 448.04 (1) (g) 448.03 (1) (d) do not apply to a an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under this section who possesses a certified registered nurse anesthetist specialty designation under sub. (1) (b) 1. or to a person who engages in the practice of a nurse anesthetist while performing official duties for the armed services or federal health services of the United States.

AB257,122 Section 122. 441.11 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

AB257,123 Section 123. 441.15 of the statutes is repealed.

AB257,124 Section 124. 441.16 of the statutes is repealed.

AB257,125 Section 125. 441.18 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB257,58,15 441.18 (2) (a) (intro.) An advanced practice registered nurse certified to who may issue prescription orders under s. 441.16 441.09 (2) may do any of the following:

AB257,126 Section 126. 441.18 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB257,58,23 441.18 (2) (b) An advanced practice registered nurse who prescribes or delivers an opioid antagonist under par. (a) 1. shall ensure that the person to whom the opioid antagonist is prescribed has or has the capacity to provide the knowledge and training necessary to safely administer the opioid antagonist to an individual undergoing an opioid-related overdose and that the person demonstrates the capacity to ensure that any individual to whom the person further delivers the opioid antagonist has or receives that knowledge and training.

AB257,127 Section 127. 441.18 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB257,59,7 441.18 (3) An advanced practice registered nurse who, acting in good faith, prescribes or delivers an opioid antagonist in accordance with sub. (2), or who, acting in good faith, otherwise lawfully prescribes or dispenses an opioid antagonist, shall be immune from criminal or civil liability and may not be subject to professional discipline under s. 441.07 for any outcomes resulting from prescribing, delivering, or dispensing the opioid antagonist.

AB257,128 Section 128. 441.19 of the statutes is repealed.

AB257,129 Section 129. 448.03 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB257,59,18 448.03 (2) (a) Any person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration, certificate, or certification granted to practice midwifery under subch. XIII of ch. 440, to practice professional or, practical, or advanced practice registered nursing or nurse-midwifery under ch. 441, to practice chiropractic under ch. 446, to practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene or as an expanded function dental auxiliary under ch. 447, to practice optometry under ch. 449, to practice as a physician assistant under subch. IX, to practice acupuncture under ch. 451 or under any other statutory provision, to practice naturopathic medicine under ch. 466, or as otherwise provided by statute.

AB257,130 Section 130. 448.035 (1) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

AB257,131 Section 131. 448.035 (2) to (4) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB257,60,9 448.035 (2) Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 448.30, a physician or certified advanced practice nurse prescriber may provide expedited partner therapy if the patient is diagnosed as infected with a chlamydial infection, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis and the patient has had sexual contact with a sexual partner during which the chlamydial infection, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis may have been transmitted to or from the sexual partner. The physician or certified advanced practice nurse prescriber shall attempt to obtain the name of the patient’s sexual partner. A prescription order for an antimicrobial drug prepared under this subsection shall include the name and address of the patient’s sexual partner, if known. If the physician or certified advanced practice nurse prescriber is unable to obtain the name of the patient’s sexual partner, the prescription order shall include, in ordinary bold-faced capital letters, the words, “expedited partner therapy” or the letters “EPT.”

AB257,60,13 (3) The physician or certified advanced practice nurse prescriber shall provide the patient with a copy of the information sheet prepared by the department of health services under s. 46.03 (44) and shall request that the patient give the information sheet to the person with whom the patient had sexual contact.

AB257,60,18 (4) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a physician or certified advanced practice nurse prescriber is immune from civil liability for injury to or the death of a person who takes any antimicrobial drug if the antimicrobial drug is prescribed, dispensed, or furnished under this section and if expedited partner therapy is provided as specified under this section.

AB257,60,22 (b) The immunity under par. (a) does not extend to the donation, distribution, furnishing, or dispensing of an antimicrobial drug by a physician or certified advanced practice nurse prescriber whose act or omission involves reckless, wanton, or intentional misconduct.