The Power of Nurses. This is what I saw and participated in recently during Nurses Day at the Capitol. Over 1000 nurses and students gathered to learn about WNA's legislative priorities before walking to the Capitol to meet with legislators. Thank you nurse educators for encouraging your students to attend. I hope they found the day as enlightening as my students did. This year we had more registered nurses attending, making WNA more Visible and NDAC even more impactful. It was evident from the three (3) legislators that spoke along with the four (4) visits with legislators/staff I attended that WNA is Valued as an organization advocating for the health of Wisconsinites. The three (3) priorities (APRN Modernization, Tax Credit for Preceptors, and Nurse Educator Loan Forgiveness) focus on access, nursing practice, and education as outlined in WNA's 2025-2026 Policy & Regulatory Priorities (formerly referred to as the Public Policy Agenda). I encourage you to explore our website to learn more ways that WNA is Vital to the nursing workforce and to our state. Thank you to all who attended #WINDAC2025 this year to meet my goal of over 1000 attendees!

WNA is celebrating the outcomes of February 27, 2025 Nurses Day at the Capitol. The 1,100 participants included APRN, RN, Nurse Educators, and Nursing Students. The goals for the day addressed strategies for nurse engagement in legislative issues that focused on the following legislative priorities:

APRN Modernization Act

Tax Credit for Preceptors of Nursing Students (RN and APRN)

Continued Funding of the Wisconsin Nurse Educator Loan Forgiveness Program

Presentations and presenters were as follows:

• Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, MSN, RN shared the portions of Governor Evers budget proposal that addresses support for the nursing workforce and the importance of nurses voicing their support.

• Gail Hanson Brenner, PhD, RN, CNE, - WNA President, Dr. Rene Buenzow, DNP, PMHNP-BC, APRN-BC -- WNA Board of Directors and Gina Dennik-Champion, MSN, MSHA, RN -- WNA Executive Director and Lobbyist provided an overview of the legislative process and the status of the three priorities. They also shared ideas with the participants about effective ways to tell their stories as it pertained to the three priorities during their afternoon legislator meetings.
• WNA Public Policy Council members, Hallie Barteau, BSN, RN, Michael Braden, MSHA, BSN, RN and Jessica Coburn, PhD, RN provided information on preparing for their legislator meetings and sharing the results of their meetings with Public Policy Council members
• The participants headed for the State Capitol where all but ten legislators had scheduled meetings with the attendees.
• WNA is in the process of reviewing the submitted summaries from the legislator meetings. At first glance, it appears that the meetings were successful in two ways, one was their ability to educate their legislators about the legislative issues and second, getting to know their state representatives.

For more information on the three priorities for the 2025-27 legislative biennium go to the WNA website and click on the Advocacy Tab https://www.wisconsinnurses.org/?CLK=19503456-7545-4ee4-80fa-1d812203d182

Present: Gail Hanson Brenner, President, Jennifer Lindner, Vice President, Tracy Zvenyach, Treasurer, Amy Hermes, Secretary, Brandon Geracie, Director - Staff Nurse Representative, Christine Bakke, Director -- NP Forum Mutual Interest Group, Rene Buenzow - Director, Christopher Wojnar - Director, Roberta Pawlak -- Director. WNA Staff: Gina Dennik-Champion -- Executive Director, Megan Leadholm -- Associate Director and Bri Dunbar -- Membership and Events Coordinator.

The meeting began with the Board of Directors Orientation. This included review of bylaws, role, functions and fiduciary responsibilities. Other information was posted for members to review.

Board actions:

1. Approval of January 13, 2025, Board of Directors meeting minutes which focused on preparation for the WNA Annual Meeting.

2. Approval of January 18, 2025, WNA Annual Meeting minutes.

3. Accepted the reports from WNA President, Vice President, APRN Representative to the Board, Membership Task Forces, Nurses Caring for Nurses Task Force, WNA Executive Director, and the representative to the Wisconsin Center for Nursing.

4. Approved a pilot project to increase participation of APRNs and APRN educators joining WNA/NP Forum Roundtable by removing WNA member fees. Non-members will continue to pay a fee.

5. Approved the following appointments: WNA Awards Committee: Amy Hermes, Brandon Geracie, and Roberta Pawlak; Committee on Appointments: Rene Buenzow; WNA Board Representative to WINPAC: Tracy Zvenyach; WNA Personnel Committee: Jennifer Lindner, Amy Hermes, Gail Hanson Brenner, and Tracy Zvenyach.

6. Approved the motion development of lateral and horizontal violence against nurses task force to identify root causes and recommendations for addressing behavior.

7. Approved partnering with the Lorna Breen Foundation to support strategies for the removal of stigmatizing language that are included in licensure application and renewal for Wisconsin Nurses.

WNA's Tri Council members thank you in advance.

WNA

Visible-Valued-Vital to the Nurses of Wisconsin

Risk Factors for Developing MH and Triggering Agents

MH is a genetic disorder, so there will be other people in the patient's family who have had a reaction. There are regions in the United States where there are higher incidence areas, with Wisconsin being one of them. The gold standard for diagnosing an MH allergy is through a muscle biopsy, so it is important to gather a clear family history before any surgical procedure. Triggering agents include halothane, isoflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane, enflurane, and succinylcholine (Rosenberg et al., 2007).

Signs and Symptoms of MH

Early identification of MH is vital to successful symptom management and the prevention of complications. Early signs and symptoms include unexplained tachycardia, tachypnea, muscle rigidity, masseter muscle rigidity, a sudden increase in end-tidal carbon dioxide, and metabolic acidosis. Later signs and symptoms are fever, rhabdomyolysis, mottled skin, and myoglobinuria (Duchene, 2024).

Treatment Plan for MH

As a rule of thumb, you must abide by your facility's policies and procedures for MH. However, here are some guidelines recommended by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses that generally encompass most MH crisis plans.

1. Call an MH code, rapid response, or the method used by your facility to get extra help, especially if the MH cart is not in your department.

2. Stop the triggering agents if surgery is still underway.

3. Hyperventilate the patient with a bag-valve-mask to lower the end-tidal CO2.

4. Prepare dantrolene as ordered and per your facility guidelines and immediately administer it to the patient. This typically reverses the signs of MH and is crucial in this situation.

5. Cool the patient with ice packs, lavages, and IV fluids as needed until their body temperature reaches less than 38C or 100.5F.

6. Insert extra lines: large bore IVs, urinary catheter, nasogastric or orogastric tube, and an arterial line as necessary.

7. Transfer the patient to the ICU as soon as possible.

To reiterate, make sure to review your facility's policies and procedures on MH management and emergency treatment, especially if you work in a non-critical care area. Familiarize yourself with your facility's protocol for dosing dantrolene as this is the life-saving agent in this case. If your facility does not address your department in its MH policy, please reach out to your leadership to get clarification on what to do if a patient shows signs of symptoms of MH in your department. Also, be an advocate for yourself and others and partake in MH drills or ask that an MH be conducted in your department. As nurses, we should be prepared to care for any patient that comes our way. Although cases are rare and chances may be low, it is essential to prepare ourselves for MH and how to best save our patients as quickly as possible.

The WNA Board of Directors has approved the development of a Task Force that will focus on the issue of lateral and horizontal violence against nurses in the workplace. This is in response to the findings in WNA's Workplace Violence Report where bullying, harassment and intimidation behaviors were a consistent issue that impacted nurse workplace satisfaction and retention.

The Task Force will be supported by WNA's Workforce Advocacy Council. WNA members interested in being appointed to the task force can click on the link HERE to submit your interest.

 Thank you in advance for your interest and support of our nurse colleagues.

Largest gathering of APRNs in the Midwest - Education for APRNs planned by APRNs!

This intensive in-person two-day conference will review current and identify new evidence-based pharmacologic and clinical approaches to the management of common conditions in primary and acute care, with the goals of safe prescribing practice and optimal therapeutic outcomes.
Conference Outcomes: By participating in the sessions offered at the conference most applicable to their professional learning needs, participants will be able to:

• Apply leadership and advocacy skills to improve collaborative partnerships at the local, state, and national level to ensure that APRNs can practice to the fullest extent of their scope of practice.
• Identify opportunities to promote health and prevent disease for self, clients, and the community.
• Implement strategies in the management of chronic, acute, and complex health conditions to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes for clients and their families.
• Apply the current research and evidence-based indicators for safe and effective prescriptive practice.

Wisconsin Peer Alliance for Nurses, or WisPAN, would not be what it is today without Marie Manthey. She and I met while presenting a webinar on Substance Use Disorder and Burnout in Nurses together in 2021. During the planning of this webinar, I learned that Marie had started a peer support program for nurses with substance use issues in Minnesota in 2014. The Nurses Peer Support Network offers hope and healing through peer support in a safe environment for nurses in recovery.  Having gone through so much due to my substance use disorder, and knowing how powerful peer support can be, I asked her if she would help me start a similar program in her neighboring state, Wisconsin. She didn't hesitate and readily agreed. She and I met frequently as she guided me. The instructions she gave me were instrumental in starting WisPAN and the care she showed me was a wonderful model for me to follow as I care for other nurses. 

I will miss my mentor and friend, but I know she will live on in each nurse I speak with, show compassion to, and guide through what can be such an overwhelming and difficult process. Marie will be remembered as an amazing leader and for the beautiful compassion she shared with each and every nurse she came in contact with. 

Manthey earned a bachelor of science degree in 1962 and a master of science degree in nursing administration in 1964 from the University of Minnesota's School of Nursing. Manthey was also awarded an honorary doctorate there in 1999. In 2022.

Manthey has written six books and published more than 100 professional articles.

References: https://www.medpagetoday.com/nursing/nursing/113463?trw=no

Kristin Waite-Labott, BSN, RN, CARN, CPRC is the Founder and President of the Wisconsin Peer Alliance for Nurses (WisPAN).

What is Craftsy?

Craftsy is an online community with tailored project kits, step-by-step expert instruction, and timely lessons to help you make something you're proud of!

With over 1,500 classes in 20+ categories, there is something for everyone:

Why Craftsy?

According to ANA's Pulse of the Nation's Nurses surveys, nurses across the country are reporting feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious. Studies show that engaging in creative hobbies is one way to relieve some of that stress.