CHAPTER 441
BOARD OF NURSING
SUBCHAPTER I
REGULATION OF NURSING
441.04 Requisites for examination as a registered nurse.
441.05 Examination for nurses.
441.06 Licensure; civil liability exemptions.
441.10 Licensed practical nurses.
441.115 Exceptions; temporary practice.
441.12 Administration; nonaccredited schools.
441.16 Prescription privileges of nurses.
SUBCHAPTER II
NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT
441.50 Nurse licensure compact.
Ch. 441 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See definitions in s.
440.01.
REGULATION OF NURSING
Subch. I of ch. 441 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also
N, Wis. adm. code.
441.001
441.001
Definitions. In this subchapter:
441.001(1)
(1) Compensation. "Compensation" includes indirect compensation, direct compensation, and the expectation of compensation, whether actually received or not.
441.001(2)
(2) Nurse. Except as provided under
s. 441.08, "nurse," when used without modification or amplification, means only a registered nurse.
441.001(2m)
(2m) Nursing. "Nursing," when used without modification or amplification, means professional nursing.
441.001(3)(a)(a) "Practical nursing" means the performance for compensation of any simple acts in the care of convalescent, subacutely or chronically ill, injured or infirm persons, or of any act or procedure in the care of the more acutely ill, injured or infirm under the specific direction of a nurse, physician, podiatrist licensed under
ch. 448, dentist licensed under
ch. 447 or optometrist licensed under
ch. 449, or under an order of a person who is licensed to practice medicine, podiatry, dentistry or optometry in another state if that person prepared the order after examining the patient in that other state and directs that the order be carried out in this state.
441.001(3)(b)
(b) In
par. (a), "simple act" means an act to which all of the following apply:
441.001(3)(b)1.
1. The act does not require any substantial nursing skill, knowledge, or training, or the application of nursing principles based on biological, physical, or social sciences, or the understanding of cause and effect in the act.
441.001(3)(b)2.
2. The act is one that is of a nature of those approved by the board for the curriculum of schools for licensed practical nurses.
441.001(4)
(4) Professional nursing. "Professional nursing" means the performance for compensation of any act in the observation or care of the ill, injured, or infirm, or for the maintenance of health or prevention of illness of others, that requires substantial nursing skill, knowledge, or training, or application of nursing principles based on biological, physical, and social sciences. Professional nursing includes any of the following:
441.001(4)(a)
(a) The observation and recording of symptoms and reactions.
441.001(4)(b)
(b) The execution of procedures and techniques in the treatment of the sick under the general or special supervision or direction of a physician, podiatrist licensed under
ch. 448, dentist licensed under
ch. 447, or optometrist licensed under
ch. 449, or under an order of a person who is licensed to practice medicine, podiatry, dentistry, or optometry in another state if the person making the order prepared the order after examining the patient in that other state and directs that the order be carried out in this state.
441.001(4)(c)
(c) The execution of general nursing procedures and techniques.
441.001(4)(d)
(d) Except as provided in
s. 50.04 (2) (b), the supervision of a patient and the supervision and direction of licensed practical nurses and less skilled assistants.
441.01
441.01
Board of nursing. 441.01(1)(1) In this subchapter, "board" means board of nursing.
441.01(3)
(3) The board may establish minimum standards for schools for professional nurses and schools for licensed practical nurses, including all related clinical units and facilities, and make and provide periodic surveys and consultations to such schools. It may also establish rules to prevent unauthorized persons from practicing professional nursing. It shall approve all rules for the administration of this chapter in accordance with
ch. 227.
441.01(4)
(4) The board shall direct that those schools which qualify be placed on the accredited list of schools for professional nurses or of schools for licensed practical nurses on application and proof of qualifications; and shall make a study of nursing education and initiate rules and policies to improve it.
441.01(5)
(5) The board may promote the professional education of graduate registered nurses licensed in Wisconsin, through creation of scholarships available to such graduate registered nurses, by foundation of professorships in nursing courses in Wisconsin colleges and universities, by conducting educational meetings, seminars, lectures, demonstrations and the like open to registered nurses, by publication and dissemination of technical information or by other similar activities designed to improve the standards of the nursing profession in this state. The board may promote the training of licensed practical nurses through support of workshops and institutes and by conducting meetings, lectures, demonstrations and the like open to licensed practical nurses.
441.01(6)
(6) The board shall investigate any nurse anesthetist who is found to have acted negligently by a panel established under s.
655.02, 1983 stats., or by a court.
441.01 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also chs.
N 1 and
2, Wis. adm. code.
441.04
441.04
Requisites for examination as a registered nurse. Any person who has graduated from a high school or its equivalent as determined by the board, does not have an arrest or conviction record, subject to
ss. 111.321,
111.322 and
111.335, holds a diploma of graduation from an accredited school of nursing and, if the school is located outside this state, submits evidence of general and professional educational qualifications comparable to those required in this state at the time of graduation may apply to the department for licensure by the board as a registered nurse, and upon payment of the fee specified under
s. 440.05 (1) shall be entitled to examination.
441.05
441.05
Examination for nurses. The examining council on registered nurses shall prepare or select written questions in areas it determines and prescribe rules, subject to the approval of the board, for conducting examinations and the preservation of the examination papers for one year. Examinations shall be held at least twice a year at times and places designated by the examining council, and at least 30 days' public notice shall be given. Examinations may also be held at other times and places with or without public notice as directed by the examining council. The examining council may also proctor an examination of another state for the convenience of a candidate and charge such fee therefor as the department fixes to cover the actual cost of the service rendered.
441.05 History
History: 1977 c. 29.
441.05 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
N 2, Wis. adm. code.
441.06
441.06
Licensure; civil liability exemptions. 441.06(1)
(1) An applicant for licensure as a registered nurse who complies with the requirements of this subchapter and satisfactorily passes an examination shall receive a license. The holder of such a license of another state or territory or province of Canada may be granted a license without examination if the holder's credentials of general and professional educational qualifications and other qualifications are comparable to those required in this state during the same period and if the board is satisfied from the holder's employment and professional record that the holder is currently competent to practice the profession. The board shall evaluate the credentials and determine the equivalency and competency in each case. The application for licensure without examination shall be accompanied by the fee prescribed in
s. 440.05 (2).
441.06(2)
(2) The holder of the license is a "registered nurse", may append "R.N." to his or her name and is authorized to practice professional nursing.
441.06(3)
(3) A registered nurse practicing for compensation shall, on or before the applicable renewal date specified under
s. 440.08 (2) (a), submit to the board on furnished forms a statement giving name, residence, and other facts that the board requires, with the applicable renewal fee specified under
s. 440.08 (2) (a).
441.06(4)
(4) Except as provided in
s. 250.042 (4) (b), no person may practice or attempt to practice professional nursing, nor use the title, letters, or anything else to indicate that he or she is a registered or professional nurse unless he or she is licensed under this section. Except as provided in
s. 250.042 (4) (b), no person not so licensed may use in connection with his or her nursing employment or vocation any title or anything else to indicate that he or she is a trained, certified or graduate nurse. This subsection does not apply to any person who is licensed to practice nursing by a jurisdiction, other than this state, that has adopted the nurse licensure compact under
s. 441.50.
441.06(6)
(6) No person licensed as a registered nurse under this section is liable for any civil damages resulting from his or her refusal to perform sterilization procedures or to remove or aid in the removal of a human embryo or fetus from a person, if the refusal is based on religious or moral precepts.
441.06(7)
(7) No person certified as an advanced practice nurse prescriber under
s. 441.16 (2) is liable for civil damages for any of the following:
441.06(7)(a)
(a) Reporting in good faith to the department of transportation under
s. 146.82 (3) a patient's name and other information relevant to a physical or mental condition of the patient that in the advanced practice nurse prescriber's judgment impairs the patient's ability to exercise reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle.
441.06(7)(b)
(b) In good faith, not reporting to the department of transportation under
s. 146.82 (3) a patient's name and other information relevant to a physical or mental condition of the patient that in the advanced practice nurse prescriber's judgment does not impair the patient's ability to exercise reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle.
441.06 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also chs.
N 3 and
5, Wis. adm. code.
441.07(1)(1) The board may, after disciplinary proceedings conducted in accordance with rules promulgated under
s. 440.03 (1), revoke, limit, suspend or deny renewal of a license of a registered nurse, a nurse-midwife or a licensed practical nurse, may revoke, limit, suspend or deny renewal of a certificate to prescribe drugs or devices granted under
s. 441.16, or may reprimand a registered nurse, nurse-midwife or licensed practical nurse, if the board finds that the person committed any of the following:
441.07(1)(a)
(a) Fraud in the procuring or renewal of the certificate or license.
441.07(1)(b)
(b) One or more violations of this subchapter or any rule adopted by the board under the authority of this subchapter.
441.07(1)(c)
(c) Acts which show the registered nurse, nurse-midwife or licensed practical nurse to be unfit or incompetent by reason of negligence, abuse of alcohol or other drugs or mental incompetency.
441.07(1)(e)
(e) A violation of any state or federal law that regulates prescribing or dispensing drugs or devices, if the person has a certificate to prescribe drugs or devices under
s. 441.16.
441.07(1m)
(1m) The board may use any information obtained by the board or the department under
s. 655.17 (7) (b), as created by
1985 Wisconsin Act 29, in investigations and disciplinary proceedings, including public disciplinary proceedings, conducted under this chapter.
441.07(2)
(2) The board may reinstate a revoked license, no earlier than one year following revocation, upon receipt of an application for reinstatement. This subsection does not apply to a license that is revoked under
s. 440.12.
441.07 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
N 7, Wis. adm. code.
441.08
441.08
Temporary permit. A nurse who has graduated from an accredited school but is not licensed in this state may be granted a temporary permit upon payment of the fee specified in
s. 440.05 (6) by the board to practice for compensation until the nurse can qualify for licensure. The temporary permit may be renewed once. Further renewals may be granted in hardship cases. The board may promulgate rules limiting the use and duration of temporary permits and providing for revocation of temporary permits.
441.08 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
N 5, Wis. adm. code.
441.10
441.10
Licensed practical nurses. 441.10(1)
(1)
Prerequisites for examination as licensed practical nurses. A person who is 18 years of age or older, does not have an arrest or conviction record, subject to
ss. 111.321,
111.322 and
111.335, has completed 2 years of high school or its equivalent as determined by the board and holds a diploma of graduation from an accredited school for licensed practical nurses approved by that board, may apply to the board for licensing as a licensed practical nurse, and, upon payment of the examination fee specified in
s. 440.05 (1), shall be entitled to take an examination. Any school for licensed practical nurses, in order to be accredited, must offer a course of not less than 9 months.
441.10(2)
(2) Examination. The examining council on licensed practical nurses shall prepare or select written questions in areas it determines and prescribe rules, subject to the approval of the board, for the examination of those desirous of becoming licensed practical nurses, and the examination papers of all applicants shall be preserved for one year. Examinations shall be held at least twice annually at times and places designated by the board, and at least 30 days' public notice shall be given of each examination. Examinations may also be held at other times and places with or without public notice as directed by the examining council. The examining council may also proctor an examination of another state for the convenience of a candidate and shall charge such fee therefor as the department fixes to cover the actual cost of the services rendered.
441.10(3)(a)(a) On complying with this subchapter relating to applicants for licensure as licensed practical nurses, and passing an examination, the applicant shall receive a license as a licensed practical nurse. The holder of the license is a "licensed practical nurse" and may append the letters "L.P.N." to his or her name. The board may reprimand or may limit, suspend or revoke the license of a licensed practical nurse under
s. 441.07.
441.10(3)(b)
(b) On or before the applicable renewal date specified under
s. 440.08 (2) (a), a licensed practical nurse practicing for compensation shall submit to the board, on forms furnished by the department, an application for license renewal, together with a statement giving name, residence, nature and extent of practice as a licensed practical nurse during the prior year and prior unreported years, and other facts bearing upon current competency that the board requires, accompanied by the applicable license renewal fee specified under
s. 440.08 (2) (a).
441.10(3)(c)
(c) No license is required for practical nursing, but, except as provided in
s. 250.042 (4) (b), 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 paragraph does not apply to any person who is licensed to practice practical nursing by a jurisdiction, other than this state, that has adopted the nurse licensure compact under
s. 441.50.
441.10(3)(d)
(d) The board may license without examination any person who has been licensed as a licensed attendant or licensed practical nurse in another state or territory or province of Canada if the person's general education, training, prior practice and other qualifications, in the opinion of the board, are at least comparable to those of this state for licensed practical nurses and current licensing or renewal. The fee for licensing without examination is specified in
s. 440.05 (2).
