Certification, Licensure, and Credentialing for the New Nurse Practitioner in Wisconsin facts for kids
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are special registered nurses who have gone to college for a long time to get a master's or doctorate degree in nursing. Think of them as nurses with extra training and skills!
There are different kinds of APRNs, like:
- Certified Nurse Midwives (who help with pregnancies and births)
- Clinical Nurse Specialists (who are experts in specific health areas)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (who help with pain relief during surgery)
- And nurse practitioners (NPs).
APRNs can do many things that doctors do. They can check on patients, figure out what's wrong (diagnose), help manage health problems, order tests, and even prescribe medicines. The rules for APRNs can be a bit different depending on which state they work in. This article will tell you how nurses become nurse practitioners in Wisconsin, covering their education, special tests, and official permissions.
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Becoming a Nurse Practitioner
To become a nurse practitioner (NP), you need to get a special graduate degree in nursing. In Wisconsin, you usually need a master's degree in nursing or a similar health field from a college or university. This school needs to be officially approved by special groups like the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). This makes sure you get a good education!
What You Learn in School
When you study to become an NP, you take important classes. The Wisconsin State Board of Nursing says NP students must take:
- Advanced Pathophysiology: This class teaches you how diseases affect the body.
- Advanced Pharmacology: This class is all about medicines – how they work and how to use them safely.
- Advanced Physical Assessment: Here, you learn how to thoroughly check a person's body to find out what's going on with their health.
Besides classroom learning, you also spend many hours working with real patients under the guidance of experienced nurses or doctors. This hands-on training is super important for learning how to care for people.
Getting Your RN License First
Before you can become an NP, you must first be a registered nurse (RN). This means you need an active RN license from Wisconsin. You also need to send your college transcripts to show you've completed your studies.
Taking the Certification Exam
After finishing your education, you need to pass a special test to become certified as an NP. Two main groups offer these tests:
- The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
These groups offer tests for different types of NPs, like those who work with families, adults, or children.
Getting Certified
Once you've finished your schooling, you can apply to take the certification exam. You need to have a master's or doctoral degree from an approved school. You also need a current RN license from Wisconsin or a "compact state" (which means your license is recognized in other states too).
A very important part of your training is completing at least 500 hours of supervised clinical practice. This is where you get real-world experience helping patients under the watchful eye of an experienced professional.
After your application is approved, you can take the exam. To pass, you usually need a score of 85% or higher. Once you pass, your certification is good for 5 years!
Getting Your License
Getting a license is how the state of Wisconsin officially gives you permission to work as a nurse practitioner. It means you've met all the necessary requirements and can use the title "nurse practitioner."
RN License Process
First, to be an RN, you must graduate from an approved nursing school. Then, you apply to take the National Council Licensing Exam (NCLEX). Once you pass the NCLEX, you get your RN license.
APRN License Process
To get your APRN license, it's a similar process. You need to graduate from an approved master's or doctoral program. Then, you must be certified by a national group like the ANCC or AANP (as mentioned in the "Getting Certified" section). Once you're certified, the Wisconsin Board of Nursing recognizes you as qualified to be an APRN.
Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber (APNP) License
In Wisconsin, there's also a special license called an Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber (APNP). To get this, you first need your RN license and APRN certification. You also need to complete 45 hours of special training in how medicines work within the last three years. After you pass another certification exam, you get your APNP license. This license allows you to prescribe medicines. In Wisconsin, an APNP usually works closely with a doctor.
What's a Credential?
"Credentialing" is the process of officially recognizing that you have the qualifications to do a specific job. In Wisconsin, there are four main types of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) that are officially recognized:
- Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP)
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
- Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
To hold the credentials for any of these APRN roles in Wisconsin, you need a master's or doctoral degree from an approved nursing school. You also need to be approved by a national certifying body, like the ANCC or AANP.
