Valued Voice

Wisconsin’s Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) issued the state’s new Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) credential to thousands of nurses serving in nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, midwife and certified registered nurse anesthetist roles across the state after Wisconsin 2025 Act 17 took effect on Sept. 1, 2026.

DSPS emailed the tens of thousands of licensed registered nurses in the state an “Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Update” to address questions the department received related to implementation.  As a registered nurse, WHA Senior Vice President of Workforce and Clinical Practice Ann Zenk received the update email. An element of Act 17 also provides a grace period that allows RNs who intend to seek APRN licensure to continue to use these titles for a 12-month period. 

Zenk notes, “Hospitals and health systems employ many advanced practice nurses and making sure hospitals and health systems and their APRN workforce are well-informed about the ongoing implementation is important.” To that end, WHA Chief Council Matthew and Zenk have held three informational meetings for WHA member leaders as implementation plans progressed.

Contact Zenk or Stanford for questions or concerns about the implementation of Wisconsin 2025 Act 17.