Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, hospitals and healthcare facilities have closed their doors to Wisconsin nursing students. We are unable to fulfill our clinical hour requirements, preventing all of us from moving forward in our nursing program, graduating, finding gainful employment, and serving our community.

Currently, the Department of Safety and Professional Services-Board of Nursing for Wisconsin (WI-SBN) & National Accreditation Boards ACEN/CCNE has strict clinical hour requirements (with NO alternatives) for nursing students. With all facilities currently closed to students, and no foreseeable end in sight to this pandemic, we are unable to complete our clinical hours, meet our goals, or use our skills to alleviate the current healthcare crisis.

We are nursing students writing this petition. We are asking the WI State Board of Nursing & National Accreditation Boards (ACEN/CCNE) for flexible alternatives to the current clinical hour requirements and alternative sites for training for ALL Wisconsin Nursing Students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As current and future caregivers we want to serve our patients, our community and our country. The fate of our future lies in the hands of those at the Wisconsin State Board of Nursing and at Accreditation Boards SUCH as ACEN/CCNE. We want desperately to partake in alleviating the nursing shortage in Wisconsin. Our desire is to care for the most vulnerable and to face this pandemic as qualified NURSES.

Please join us and sign this petition requesting the Wisconsin State Board of Nursing & National Accreditation Boards ACEN/CCNE for flexibility, alternatives to current clinical hour requirements and alternative sites for training for Wisconsin Nursing Students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are a part of the solution to this crisis – but only if you help us get there.