Board of Nursing Update
Wisconsin’s State Board of Nursing is engaged in Administrative Rules review and creation. The purpose of Wisconsin’s Administrative Rules are to implement and clarify the laws passed by the state legislature. These rules are created by state agencies, which in this case is the Board of Nursing. The rules provide detailed procedures, standards, and requirements necessary to carry out the intent of Wisconsin statutes. The process for the development of either changes or introduction of new rules is different than the legislative process.
The Administrative Rule process
The Wisconsin rulemaking process involves an agency, in our case, the Wisconsin board of Nursing, creating a draft rule after receiving statutory authority and approval for a “Statement of Scope” from the Governor. The process includes drafting the rule, preparing an economic impact analysis, conducting public hearings, and submitting the final rule to the Governor and the legislature for review and potential objection before it can be published and become effective. This process, governed by Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 227, can take a year or more to complete. Refer to diagram below.
Administrative Rules being pursued by the Wisconsin Board of Nursing
Published rules: Chapter N 6 – Nurse Delegation: Published July 1, 2025 (official). The rule clarifies and updates regulations on delegated nursing acts, specifying what tasks RNs and LPNs may delegate and under what conditions that include: Delegated Acts: Defines which nursing tasks can be delegated by RNs and LPNs. Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP): Introduces a definition for UAPs and outlines requirements for delegation, including necessary education and training and authorization for perform nursing intervention tasks with supervision and direction by RNs, general definition of “provider” to broaden the range of professionals who are authorized to delegate acts and replacement of the term “assignments” to “delegated acts” under standards of practice for licensed practical nurses.
WNA has a webinar recording on nurse delegation from October 13, 2025 that you can view by going to Nurse Delegation Webinar
Published rules: Chapter N 8 – Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers (APNP): Published October 1, 2025 (official). Chapter N 8 Updates for APNP Certification and Renewal:
License Requirement Clarified: Applicants must hold a current professional nursing license in Wisconsin or in another Nurse Licensure Compact state. Education Requirements Updated: Language revised to remove outdated terms and allow the Board to consider educational programs recognized by organizations beyond regional accrediting bodies approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Nursing Workforce Survey Removed: APNPs are no longer required to complete the workforce survey at renewal, as it didn’t align with statutory guidelines. Renewal Simplified: APNPs must maintain current certification from a national certifying body approved by the Board (NP, CNM, CRNA, or CNS). Explicit Renewal License Requirement: Renewal now explicitly requires holding a current professional nursing license in Wisconsin or a compact state, reinforcing an existing requirement.
WNA provided testimony in support of the Nurse Delegation and APNP Rule changes.
Rules submitted to the Governor for development of Scope Statement:
Chapter N1 – School of Nursing Faculty: The purpose of this administrative rule project is to expand the criteria regarding who can teach in a clinical setting to include BSN prepared nurses. A public hearing hosted by the Board of Nursing is pending.
Chapter N8 – Advanced Practice Registered Nurse: The Board of Nursing will be submitting a scope statement in the near future to begin work on the Administrative Rules for the recently passed legislation APRN legislation. The work is to be completed by September 1, 2026.
WNA has a webinar recording from August 9, 2025 that summarizes the APRN Modernization Act that you can view by going to 2025 What you need to know about Wisconsin’s APRN Practice Act Webinar
