The Britannica Dictionary defines compromise as “a way of reaching agreement in which each person or group gives up something that was wanted in order to end an argument or dispute.”

With his veto of the bipartisan Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Modernization Act, Gov. Tony Evers apparently believes compromise means “I demand that you give me everything I want or your side gets absolutely nothing.”

It is utterly ridiculous and downright irresponsible that Gov. Evers has once again vetoed the APRN Modernization Act. When I reintroduced the bill this session after a similar version was vetoed in April of 2022, I knew that we would have to work with the governor and make some concessions if we wanted to get it across the finish line. Given the importance of this legislation, we gave Gov. Evers some of the things he wanted and made compromises in other key areas. Yet, he still made the reckless decision to turn his back on our healthcare workers and over one million Wisconsinites who live in underserved areas.

The APRN Modernization Act would have authorized registered nurses to practice independently without the need for a collaborative agreement with a physician. Almost 30 other states – including Minnesota and Iowa – have enacted legislation comparable to the bipartisan legislation I lead the charge to pass in both chambers. The APRN Modernization Act was also one of the top priorities of the Tribal Nations of Wisconsin.

Like many states, Wisconsin rolled back the restrictions on our 8,000 advanced practice nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a study conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, this temporary action ended up benefiting residents by promoting expanded access to care and increasing the resiliency of healthcare systems without compromising patient safety.

APRNs are a vital part of our healthcare workforce and we count on them to ensure access to quality care, especially in our rural communities. While APRNs may have different areas or expertise, they all share one thing in common: they have earned advanced degrees, completed hundreds of hours of clinical training and are well-equipped to provide excellent care. Gov. Evers may have declared 2024 to be the “Year of the Worker,” but it’s a shame he doesn’t believe that APRNs are qualified enough to do the jobs they were trained to do. As a result, we will all pay the price – primarily through higher medical bills and less-accessible healthcare.