At the December 16, 2026, meeting of the WNA Board of Directors, there was approval for three applications related to the development of WNA Mutual Interest Groups (MIGs).   A Mutual Interest Groups (MIG) are comprised of WNA members who have common interests and needs, who come together to support educational advancement, networking, and dissemination of information in their area of nursing interest.  MIG structures were added to the WNA Bylaws in 2012.  The only current MIG is WNA’s Nurse Practitioner Forum.

WNA members wanting to form a MIG must complete an application that includes the purpose, support of WNA Goals, and a steering committee.  Other engagement of the MIG includes use of WNA social media for primary communication, materials are co-branded with WNA, partner with WNA in development of and implementation of educational offerings, and WNA approval for position statements and technical papers.

Purpose

The purpose of the Nurses Against Human Trafficking is to promote education and awareness for nurses about human trafficking, to support evidence-based nursing practice related to care and treatment of human trafficking, to advance statewide trafficking, to foster professional networking and address a critical public health issue. 

Background

Human trafficking was recognized by the American Nurses Association and by WNA in 2008 as a serious nationwide health concern. Both ANA and WNA affirmed the need for registered nurses to understand the seriousness and significance of human trafficking to recognize its public health impact and respond accordingly. Human trafficking is a global issue disproportionately affecting women and children and results in significant physical, emotional, and social harm. Nurses are at the forefront of assessment, intervention, and prevention. In 2021 the WNA Board of Directors approved the development of a Task Force charged with evaluating and identifying nurse’s role in addressing human trafficking. The Task Force realized that there is more work to be done and recommended that the Task Force transition to a Mutual Interest Group.

Areas of Focus for Year One

• Promote January National Human Trafficking Month
• Create a web-based platform that contain resources for nurses about human trafficking.
• Offer two webinars about human trafficking to increase nurses’ knowledge

Purpose

The purpose of the Nurses Caring for Nurses Mutual Interest Group (NCN MIG) is to create a statewide, nurse-led collaborative focused on improving the well-being and professional sustainability of Wisconsin nurses. The NCN MIG serves as a structured forum where nurses can connect, share experiences, and access peer-driven strategies that support mental health, reduce stress, and prevent burnout by providing a robust, web-based resource repository.

Areas of Focus for Year One

• Promotion of virtual connection sessions (peer support conversations, topic-focused discussions, and guest speakers) offered by partner organizations.
• Hosting educational webinars on resilience, mental health, trauma-informed practice, and/or self-care.
• Facilitating ongoing expansion of the current resource sharing hub (compilation of evidence-based tools, articles, and practices).
• Partnering on in-person gatherings held in conjunction with a WNA conference or event.
• Collaborating on projects such as well-being toolkits, advocacy recommendations, or statewide campaigns.

Purpose

The Planetary Health MIG will bring together nurses across Wisconsin who are concerned about the growing health impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and energy policy. The purpose of this MIG is to apply a nursing lens to climate and environmental health issues by centering patient and frontline community experiences, population health, health equity, emergency preparedness, adaptation, and resilience. This group will support nurses in learning, collaborating, and engaging in values-driven advocacy and action that protects public health and promotes environmental justice.

Nurses are trusted professionals who witness firsthand how environmental changes like air pollution, extreme heat, unsafe water, and rising energy costs impact the health of patients and communities. This MIG will create a structured space for nurses to share their experiences, build collective knowledge, and amplify nursing voices in conversations about climate, environmental, and energy policy. The group will focus on education, collaboration with partner organizations, identification and engagement in advocacy opportunities, and capacity building to support sustained nurse involvement in planetary health efforts across the state.

Areas of Focus for Year One

• Participate in 2026 Nurses’ Day at the Capitol Breakout Session with a focus on data centers.
• Advocacy Training for Nurse Engagement

The MIG will offer advocacy training sessions to prepare nurses to meet with lawmakers and effectively advocate for healthy climate and environmental policies.

• Educational Webinars

The MIG will host an educational webinar designed to build nurses’ understanding of how climate and environmental factors affect health across the lifespan and across communities in Wisconsin.

• Collaboration With Other Organizations

The MIG will collaborate with Healthy Climate Wisconsin and other aligned organizations to ensure nursing perspectives are meaningfully integrated into statewide climate and health advocacy efforts.

If you are interested in participating in any, or all, of these Mutual Interest Groups, please fill out WNA’s interest form by clicking here.