ATTIRE: Business casual – you will be meeting with legislators.

SCHEDULE for the Day 

7:15 am
Registration / Continental Breakfast / Visit with Exhibitors at Monona Terrace

8:15 am
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Gail Hanson Brenner, PhD, RN, CNE – President, Wisconsin Nurses Association
Mara Kiekhoefer, President, Wisconsin Student Nurses Association

8:30 am
Keynote Address: Nurse Engagement in Advocacy
Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN – President, American Nurses Association

9:15 am
WNA Advocacy Program: Working for You and Your Practice
Jessica Coburn, PhD, RN – Clinical Associate Professor, UW-Madison School of Nursing
Katie Woeste, DNP, RN – WNA Public Policy Council; Program Director, Kenosha Community Health Center, Inc.

9:30 am
Break and Visit Exhibitors

10:15 am
Breakout Session 1: Planetary Health Policy for Nurses: Impact of Data Centers
Paula Pintar, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, AL-CIP, FAPIC - Regional Infection Preventionist, Wisconsin Department of Public Health
Eric Ido-Bruce, BSN, RN – Clinical Solution Manager, BioIntelliSense
Breakout Session 2: Emerging Policies: Supporting Clinician Well-Being
Kelly Kruse Nelles, MS, RN, APRN-BC – Executive Director, Wisconsin Center for Nursing
Roberta Pawlak, PhD, RN, NEA-BC - Clinical Professor, UW-Madison School of Nursing
Katie Gillespie, DNP, RN, CPH, CNE, FAAN – Clinical Assistant Professor, UW-Madison School of Nursing
Gina Dennik-Champion, MSN, MSHA, RN – WNA Executive Director and Lobbyist
Breakout Session 3: Who am I Speaking to? AI or a Nurse!
Gail Hanson Brenner, PhD, RN, CNE – President, Wisconsin Nurses Association
Sarah Peterson, RN, BSN – Registered Nurse, UW Health
Carolyn Reilly, BSN, RN, CCRN - Registered Nurse, UW Health

11:00 am
Shaping Health Policy for Patients and the Profession: The Vital Role of Nursing’s Voice
Eric Ido-Bruce, BSN, RN – Clinical Solution Manager, BioIntelliSense

11:25 am
Talk to Me: Tips for Communicating Effectively with Legislators
Peter Welch, BA, MA, WNA Lobbyist, The Welch Group
Gina Dennik-Champion, MSN, MSHA, RN – WNA Executive Director and Lobbyist

12:10 pm
What’s Next? Prepare to meet with your Legislators
Hallie Barteau, BSN, RN - WNA Public Policy Council; Registered Nurse, Froedtert Hospital
Jessica Coburn, PhD, RN – Clinical Associate Professor, UW-Madison School of Nursing

12:30 pm
End of Morning Session -Lunch on Own - Head to the Capitol for legislator meetings

1:00 – 4:30 pm
Scheduled Meetings with legislators – State Capitol

1:30 – 4:30 pm
Debrief on legislator meetings, Certificate of Attendance

WNA will schedule legislator visits for all participants. WNA has created a google doc (coming soon) for the legislator visit times and schedules, this will be updated in real time, please check this document the day of the conference to confirm the time and location as changes/updates will most likely happen.   State Capitol Floor Plan

How it works:

• You will identify the names and District #s of your legislators on your registration form, this will be listed on your name tag for a reminder. If you do not see your legislator listed on the google doc - please check your address again for the correct legislator, and inform WNA staff of the change. Please enter your address under the 'Who Are My Legislators' section of The Wisconsin State Legislature Homepage.
• WNA will attempt to schedule meeting times with all of our registrants' identified legislators - meetings may take place at the Capitol or at Monona Terrace depending on the size of the registrant group for that legislator.
• It is your responsibility to check that google.doc to see if there is a meeting scheduled with your identified legislators and SHOW UP for the meeting - WNA will provide each legislator with a list of registrants expected to attend the meeting. If you cannot attend your scheduled meeting, please INFORM WNA staff.
• The google.doc will list each Senator (and district number) with the location/time of the meeting, along with their corresponding Assembly Representative (and district number) location/time. If you don't remember who you choose on your registration form, it will also be on your name tag.

Appointments will be held at either the State Capitol or Monona Terrace after NDAC morning presentations have concluded on February 24th. You will be required to attend your legislator visit to receive the certificate of completion.

ATTIRE: Business casual – you will be meeting with legislators.

Legislator Visits: google doc (coming soon)
State Capitol Floor Plan

Monona Terrace  - Directions and Parking

Monona Terrace offers 400-space, automated parking structure available 24/7 and is accessible via the eastbound lanes of John Nolen Drive OR Wilson Street. See directions here.  Acceptable forms of payment for the automated ramp include Master Card, Visa, Discover, American Express or cash (no coin).

Monona Terrace Parking Rates: https://www.mononaterraceparking.com/

Short-term and all-day public parking is provided throughout downtown Madison in various structures and lots. On-street parking is also available for short-term parking in central Madison.
See real-time city lot parking availability complete with turn-by-turn instruction.

BUS PARKING INSTRUCTIONS: 
Buses may load and unload passengers on Level 4 drive thru lane at Monona Terrace. If you need parking for the bus during the day between drop off and pick up, you may use the Olin-Turnville Park on John Nolen Drive, see Bus Parking Map. There is no parking for busses at the Monona Terrace.

All handouts available will be posted here (blue font), check back before the day of the conference, this page will be updated often.

Certificates of Attendance will be issued only to those participants who complete their scheduled visit(s) with legislators and turn in a completed paper 'Report' of  their meeting(s) at the debriefing station at the Capitol (or Monona Terrace) before leaving.  Certificates of Attendance will not be awarded for attending the morning educational sessions only.

There are no continuing education contact hours offered for this activity.  

Lunch is on your own 
Here is a listing of a few restaurants located on the square.
Keep close, you don't want to be late to your legislator visit!

• The cost to exhibit at Nurses Day is $400.00. Deadline to reserve space is February 2, 2026.
• Exhibit space includes an 8-foot skirted table and chair. Exhibitors are invited to partake of the continental breakfast.
• To insure high visibility and participant access to exhibits, the continental breakfast and break will be served adjacent to the exhibit area.
• Please note that an electrical hook-up is NOT included in the Exhibit fee and must be ordered and paid for through Monona Terrace. Please email Bri@wisconsinnurses.org to order electricity, we will send you the order form from Monona Terrace once available.
• Exhibits are scheduled from 7:30-11:15 AM.  Set up time is 6:30-7:30 AM.  An email will be sent approximately one week before the conference confirming setup time and location of exhibits.
• Cancellations received on or before February 2, 2026 will be subject to a $50.00 cancellation fee.  No refunds will be issued after February 6.

Consider becoming a SPONSOR of this program and receive a complimentary exhibit table on February 25th reserved in a prime location!

SPONSORING this program...

• Sponsor at the Bronze ($500), Silver ($1,000) or Gold ($1,500) level
• All Sponsors receive a complimentary exhibitor table on February 25 reserved in a prime location!
• All Sponsors receive name/logo* recognition in the printed Conference Program and on the conference webpage, and recognition from the podium at the Welcome address.

REGISTER TO EXHIBIT/SPONSOR - Click Here

ADVERTISING in the printed conference program distributed to all conference participants and presenters...

• See the attached document for ad size and rate information.
• Deadline to reserve ad space is Monday, January 26, 2026. Reserve early to secure the best ad location!
• Cancellations received on or before Monday, January 26, 2026. will be subject to a $50.00 cancellation fee. There will be NO refunds after January 26th.

REGISTER TO ADVERTISE - Click Here