Wis. Stat. § 441.16 — WI Code / Chapter 441 / Section 441.16
Prescription privileges of nurses.
Status: in_force

(1) In this section:

(a) “Device” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (6) .

(b) “Drug” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (10) and includes all of the following:

1. Prescription drugs, as defined in s. 450.01 (20) (a) .

2. Controlled substances, as defined in s. 961.01 (4) .

(c) “Prescription order” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (21) .

(2) Subject to s. 441.07 (1g) , the board shall grant a certificate to issue prescription orders to an advanced practice nurse who meets the education, training, and examination requirements established by the board for a certificate to issue prescription orders, and who pays the fee specified under s. 440.05 (1) . An advanced practice nurse certified under this section may provide expedited partner therapy in the manner described in s. 448.035 .

(3) The board shall promulgate rules necessary to administer this section, including rules for all of the following:

(a) Establishing the education, training or experience requirements that a registered nurse must satisfy to be an advanced practice nurse. The rules promulgated under this paragraph shall require a registered nurse to have education, training or experience that is in addition to the education, training or experience required for licensure as a registered nurse.

(am) Establishing the appropriate education, training and examination requirements that an advanced practice nurse must satisfy to qualify for a certificate to issue prescription orders.

(b) Defining the scope of practice within which an advanced practice nurse may issue prescription orders.

(c) Specifying the classes of drugs, individual drugs or devices that may not be prescribed by an advanced practice nurse.

(cm) Specifying the conditions to be met for a registered nurse to do the following:

1. Administer a drug prescribed by an advanced practice nurse who is certified to issue prescription orders.

2. Administer a drug at the direction of an advanced practice nurse who is certified to issue prescription orders.

(d) Establishing procedures for maintaining a certificate to issue prescription orders, including requirements for continuing education.

(e) Establishing the minimum amount of malpractice liability insurance coverage that an advanced practice nurse shall have if he or she is certified to issue prescription orders. The board shall promulgate rules under this paragraph in consultation with the commissioner of insurance.

(4) Every advanced practice nurse who is certified to issue prescription orders shall annually submit to the board evidence satisfactory to the board that he or she has in effect malpractice liability insurance coverage in the minimum amounts required by the rules of the board.

(5) An advanced practice nurse who is certified to issue prescription orders may not delegate the act of issuing a prescription order to any nurse who is not certified to issue prescription orders.

(6) Nothing in this section prohibits a nurse from issuing a prescription order as an act delegated by a physician, and nothing in this section prohibits an advanced practice nurse certified under this section from issuing a prescription order as an act delegated by a podiatrist.

History: 1993 a. 138 ; 1995 a. 448 ; 2009 a. 28 , 280 ; 2013 a. 114 ; 2017 a. 227 , 329 ; 2025 a. 17 .