WI AB257

Creates a new licensure category for "advanced practice registered nurses" (APRNs) in Wisconsin, consolidating nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists under a single license with specialty designations

Allows APRNs to practice independently after completing 3,840 clinical hours of professional nursing plus 3,840 additional hours of APRN practice under physician/dentist collaboration, with at least 24 months elapsed for each requirement

Grants APRNs authority to issue prescription orders (including controlled substances per board rules), provide expedited partner therapy for sexually transmitted infections, and delegate tasks to other clinically trained health care workers

Requires APRNs to maintain malpractice liability insurance and complete 16 hours of continuing education in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics per biennium

Updates approximately 170 statutory references throughout Wisconsin law to replace "advanced practice nurse prescriber," "nurse-midwife," and "certified nurse anesthetist" terminology with the new APRN designation, effective the first day of the 13th month after publication