LRB-3626/2
MDK:kaf:km
1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE
October 22, 1997 - Introduced by Senators Moen, Rosenzweig, Breske, Burke,
Roessler, Rude, Farrow and Welch, cosponsored by Representatives
Underheim, Robson, Goetsch, La Fave, Notestein, Hanson, Green,
Ainsworth, Bock and
Plouff. Referred to Committee on Health, Human
Services, Aging, Corrections, Veterans and Military Affairs.
SB331,1,2
1An Act to amend 441.11 (3) and 441.11 (4) of the statutes;
relating to: defining
2the practice of nursing to include acting under the direction of optometrists.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, with certain exceptions, a person may not practice practical
nursing or professional nursing unless he or she is granted a license by the board of
nursing in the department of regulation and licensing. The "practice of practical
nursing" and the "practice of professional nursing" are both defined to include acting
under the direction or order of a licensed podiatrist or dentist. This bill expands these
definitions to include acting under the direction or order of a licensed optometrist.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB331, s. 1
3Section
1. 441.11 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB331,2,64
441.11
(3) Practice of practical nursing. The practice of practical nursing
5under this chapter means the performance for compensation of any simple acts in the
6care of convalescent, subacutely or chronically ill, injured or infirm persons, or of any
7act or procedure in the care of the more acutely ill, injured or infirm under the specific
8direction of a nurse, physician, podiatrist licensed under ch. 448
or, dentist licensed
9under ch. 447
or optometrist licensed under ch. 449, or under an order of a person
10who is licensed to practice medicine, podiatry
or, dentistry
or optometry in another
1state if that person prepared the order after examining the patient in that other state
2and directs that the order be carried out in this state. A simple act is one which does
3not require any substantial nursing skill, knowledge or training, or the application
4of nursing principles based on biological, physical or social sciences, or the
5understanding of cause and effect in such acts and is one which is of a nature of those
6approved by the board for the curriculum of schools for licensed practical nurses.
SB331, s. 2
7Section
2. 441.11 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB331,2,238
441.11
(4) Practice of professional nursing. The practice of professional
9nursing within the terms of this chapter means the performance for compensation
10of any act in the observation or care of the ill, injured or infirm, or for the maintenance
11of health or prevention of illness of others, which act requires substantial nursing
12skill, knowledge or training, or application of nursing principles based on biological,
13physical and social sciences, such as the observation and recording of symptoms and
14reactions, the execution of procedures and techniques in the treatment of the sick
15under the general or special supervision or direction of a physician, podiatrist
16licensed under ch. 448
or, dentist licensed under ch. 447
or optometrist licensed
17under ch. 449, or under an order of a person who is licensed to practice medicine,
18podiatry
or, dentistry
or optometry in another state if that person prepared the order
19after examining the patient in that other state and directs that the order be carried
20out in this state, and the execution of general nursing procedures and techniques.
21Except as provided in s. 50.04 (2) (b), the practice of professional nursing includes the
22supervision of a patient and the supervision and direction of licensed practical
23nurses and less skilled assistants.
