Governor Evers Vetoes APRN Modernization Act

Saturday, April 6th, 2024 -- 9:01 AM

(Jessie Opoien, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) A legislative effort to expand the scope of authority for some Wisconsin nurses failed for the second time with a veto from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Thursday, although the governor said he still hoped to someday sign a version of the proposal into law.

According to Jessie Opoien with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the "APRN Modernization Act" would have created a new system that would allow registered nurses who meet certain qualifications to be licensed by the state board of nursing as advanced practice registered nurses, or APRNs.

Lawmakers and nursing groups have advocated its passage for more than a decade. Under the legislation, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists and certified nurse-midwives would automatically receive APRN licenses.

APRNs would generally have the authority to practice independently without a collaborative or supervisory agreement with a physician, prescribe medication, delegate some tasks to other clinically trained health care workers and use the title “A.P.R.N.”

Evers also vetoed a version of the legislation passed with bipartisan support last spring, but generally supports its intent. "I support creating an APRN license and allowing for independent practice of APRNs, and have previously pursued measures to do so that were rejected by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance," Evers wrote in his most recent veto message.

"Nevertheless, several concerns I consistently raised throughout this and previous legislative sessions, which could well have been addressed during the legislative process, remain unresolved in the bill before me today."

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