441.001(3n)(3n) Practice of a clinical nurse specialist. “Practice of a clinical nurse specialist” means providing advanced nursing care, primarily in health care facilities, including the diagnosis and treatment of illness for identified specific populations based on a specialty. 441.001(3r)(3r) Practice of a nurse practitioner. “Practice of a nurse practitioner” means practice in ambulatory, acute, long-term, or other health care settings as a primary or specialty care provider who provides health services, including assessing, diagnosing, treating, or managing acute, episodic, and chronic illnesses. 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, chiropractor licensed under ch. 446, 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, chiropractic, 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. 441.001(5)(5) Recognized role. “Recognized role” means one of the following roles: 441.01441.01 Board of nursing. 441.01(3)(3) The board may promulgate rules to establish minimum standards for schools for professional nurses, schools for licensed practical nurses, and schools for advanced practice registered nurses, including all related clinical units and facilities, and make and provide periodic surveys and consultations to such schools. The board may also promulgate rules to prevent unauthorized persons from practicing professional nursing. Effective date noteNOTE: Sub. (3) is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. Prior to 9-1-26 it reads: Effective date text(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 that qualify be placed on a list of schools the board has approved for professional nurses, of schools the board has approved for licensed practical nurses, or of schools the board has approved for advanced practice registered nurses on application and proof of qualifications, and the board shall make a study of nursing education and promulgate rules and policies to improve it. Effective date noteNOTE: Sub. (4) is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. Prior to 9-1-26 it reads: Effective date text(4) The board shall direct that those schools that qualify be placed on a list of schools the board has approved for professional nurses or of schools the board has approved 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(7)(a)(a) The board shall require each applicant for the renewal of a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or advanced practice registered nurse license issued under this chapter to do all of the following as a condition for renewing the license: 441.01 TextNOTE: Par. (a) (intro.) is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. Prior to 9-1-26 it reads: Effective date text(a) The board shall require each applicant for the renewal of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse license issued under this chapter to do all of the following as a condition for renewing the license:
441.01(7)(a)1.1. Complete and submit to the department with the application for renewal of the license a nursing workforce survey developed by the department of workforce development under s. 106.30 (2). 441.01(7)(a)2.2. Pay a nursing workforce survey fee of $4. All moneys received under this subdivision shall be deposited into the general fund and credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.165 (1) (jm). 441.01(7)(b)(b) The board may not renew a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or advanced practice registered nurse license under this chapter unless the renewal applicant has completed the nursing workforce survey to the satisfaction of the board. The board shall establish standards to determine whether the survey has been completed. The board shall, by no later than June 30 of each odd-numbered year, submit all completed nursing workforce survey forms to the department of workforce development. 441.01 TextNOTE: Par. (b) is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. Prior to 9-1-26 it reads: Effective date text(b) The board may not renew a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse license under this chapter unless the renewal applicant has completed the nursing workforce survey to the satisfaction of the board. The board shall establish standards to determine whether the survey has been completed. The board shall, by no later than June 30 of each odd-numbered year, submit all completed nursing workforce survey forms to the department of workforce development.
441.01(7)(c)(c) An applicant who is renewing both a registered nurse and advanced practice registered nurse license under s. 441.09 (1) (c) is only required to pay a single fee under par. (a) 2. 441.01 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See also chs. N 1 and 2, Wis. adm. code. 441.06441.06 Registered nurses; civil liability exemption. 441.06(1)(1) Subject to s. 441.07 (1g), the board shall grant a license as a registered nurse to an applicant for licensure who complies with all of the following requirements: Effective date noteNOTE: Section 441.06 (title) is shown as repealed and recreated eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. Prior to 9-1-26 it reads: 441.06 Note441.06 Licensure; civil liability exemptions.
441.06(1)(a)(a) The applicant graduates from a high school or its equivalent as determined by the board. 441.06(1)(c)(c) The applicant holds a diploma of graduation from a school of nursing approved by the board or that the board has authorized to admit students pending approval, and, if that 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. 441.06(1)(e)(e) The applicant passes the examination approved by the board to receive a license as a registered nurse in this state. The applicant may not take the examination before receiving a diploma under par. (c) unless the applicant obtains a certificate of approval to take the examination from the school of nursing the applicant attends and submits that certificate to the board prior to examination. 441.06(1c)(1c) The board shall grant a multistate license, as defined in s. 441.51 (2) (h), to an applicant for a multistate registered nurse license under s. 441.51. Subject to s. 441.07 (1g), the requirements under sub. (1) shall apply to such an applicant, except that the requirements under s. 441.51 (3) (c) for granting a multistate license shall supersede the requirements under sub. (1) to the extent of any conflict. 441.06(1m)(1m) The holder of a license as a registered nurse under the laws of another state or territory or province of Canada may be granted a license as a registered nurse in this state 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) Except as provided in s. 441.09 (1) (c), 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 nursing workforce survey and fee required under s. 441.01 (7) and the applicable renewal fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). Effective date noteNOTE: Sub. (3) is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. Prior to 9-1-26 it reads: Effective date text(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 nursing workforce survey and fee required under s. 441.01 (7) and the applicable renewal fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a).
441.06(4)(4) Except as provided in ss. 257.03 and 440.077, 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 ss. 257.03 and 440.077, 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 registered 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. Effective date noteNOTE: Sub. (4) is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. Prior to 9-1-26 it reads: Effective date text(4) Except as provided in ss. 257.03 and 440.077, 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 ss. 257.03 and 440.077, 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 registered 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.
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. Effective date noteNOTE: Sub. (7) is renumbered to s. 441.09 (7) and amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. 441.06 HistoryHistory: 1971 c. 125, 215; 1973 c. 159; 1975 c. 39, 199; 1977 c. 29, 164; 1979 c. 34, 162; 1987 a. 27, 264; 1991 a. 39; 1999 a. 22; 2001 a. 107; 2005 a. 96, 187; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 42; 2013 a. 114 ss. 4, 5; 2013 a. 124 s. 28; 2015 a. 55, 195; 2017 a. 135, 329; 2021 a. 158, 246; 2025 a. 17. 441.06 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See also ch. N 2, Wis. adm. code. 441.065(1)(1) Except as provided in sub. (2), no person licensed under this chapter may use, assume, or append to his or her name any title that is not granted under this chapter unless the person holds another credential, as defined in s. 440.01 (2) (a), that entitles the person to use, assume, or append to his or her name the title or the person is permitted to use, assume, or append to his or her name the title under any law of this state. 441.065(2)(a)(a) Subsection (1) does not prohibit a person who holds a doctorate degree from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name the title “doctor” or any other words, letters, or abbreviations that represent that the person holds that doctorate degree or the field in which the degree was received. If a person to whom this paragraph applies uses, assumes, or appends to his or her name the title “doctor,” the person shall also use, assume, or append to his or her name words, letters, or abbreviations that represent the field in which the person received the doctorate degree. 441.065(2)(b)(b) Subsection (1) does not prohibit a person who holds a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name any words, letters, or abbreviations that represent that the person holds that degree or the field in which the degree was received. Effective date noteNOTE: This section is created eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. 441.065 HistoryHistory: 2025 a. 17. 441.07441.07 Disciplinary proceedings and actions. 441.07(1c)(1c) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the board may conduct investigations and hearings to determine whether a person has violated this chapter or a rule promulgated under this chapter. 441.07(1g)(1g) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the board may deny an initial license or revoke, limit, suspend, or deny the renewal of a license of a registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, or licensed practical nurse or reprimand a registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, or licensed practical nurse if the board finds that the applicant or licensee committed any of the following: 441.07 TextNOTE: Sub. (1g) (intro.) is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. Prior to 9-1-26 it reads: Effective date text(1g) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the board may deny an initial license or revoke, limit, suspend, or deny the renewal of a license of a registered nurse, nurse-midwife, or licensed practical nurse; deny an initial certificate or revoke, limit, suspend, or deny the renewal of a certificate to prescribe drugs or devices granted under s. 441.16; or reprimand a registered nurse, nurse-midwife, or licensed practical nurse, if the board finds that the applicant or licensee committed any of the following:
441.07(1g)(a)(a) Fraud in the procuring or renewal of the license. 441.07 TextNOTE: Par. (a) is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. Prior to 9-1-26 it reads: Effective date text(a) Fraud in the procuring or renewal of the certificate or license.
441.07(1g)(b)(b) One or more violations of this subchapter or any rule adopted by the board under the authority of this subchapter. 441.07(1g)(c)(c) Acts that show the registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, or licensed practical nurse to be unfit or incompetent by reason of negligence, abuse of alcohol or other drugs, or mental incompetency. 441.07 TextNOTE: Par. (c) is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. Prior to 9-1-26 it reads: Effective date text(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(1g)(d)(d) Misconduct or unprofessional conduct. In this paragraph, “unprofessional conduct” includes making a determination under ch. 154 or 155 if the person does not have sufficient education, training, and experience to make the determination. In this paragraph, “misconduct” and “unprofessional conduct” do not include any of the following:
