In this issue... 1. Why Health System Partnerships are the Future of Nurse Wellness 2. 2026 Fundraising Gala Update: On Thursday, May 7, 2026, our community came together in a beautiful way for our Spring Into Nurse Wellness Benefit Gala at Marquette University. 3. Get ready for episode 4 of the Healing Tapestry podcast! Coming out soon. 4. A Historic Milestone: Wisconsin Recognizes Nurse Suicide Awareness, Intervention, and Postvention Month. And MORE!

WisPAN believes no nurse should have to walk the path of recovery alone. For too long, our profession has been shrouded in a culture of perfection and silence that often prevents us from seeking the very help we provide to others every day. WisPAN aims to change that.

Happy New Year from WisPAN! As we enter 2026, the Wisconsin Peer Alliance for Nurses (WisPAN) is reflecting on a landmark year of supporting our nursing community. Highlights from our latest quarterly newsletter include: Prioritizing Nurse Wellbeing: In November 2025, we hosted "A Time for Change," a collaborative educational event that drew 123 attendees to focus on workforce sustainability and self-care. Strong Community Engagement: Our peer support network continues to grow, with 14 mental wellness meetings and 31 substance use meetings held in the final quarter of 2025 alone. Healing Tapestry Podcast: We are excited to announce new upcoming episodes of our podcast, The Collective Stories of Nurses, featuring powerful stories of hope and recovery. Expanded Peer Support: We continue to offer free, confidential, and anonymous virtual support meetings for all nurses and nursing students. National Growth: WisPAN is expanding its reach beyond Wisconsin, launching similar programs in other states to support nurses across the country. License Renewal Reminder: Wisconsin RN license renewals opened on January 10th. Be sure to follow DSPS instructions to renew on time!

Welcome to our Fall newsletter, we are so glad you are here. Your presence and voice are making a powerful impact. We're continuing to build our presence and spread the word about peer support and nurse well-being by visiting many conferences and events this fall, see the newsletter for details! And mark your calendars! We are hosting a special education event on November 19th in partnership with the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW). The event is free and will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at UW-Stevens Point. We welcome you to attend or consider exhibiting or donating wellness items. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn and grow with our community, see the newsletter for more details! Thank you for being a part of the WisPAN community. Your support is what makes all of this possible.

Welcome to the latest edition of the Wisconsin Peer Alliance for Nurses (WisPAN) Quarterly Newsletter! As we step into July, our hearts are full of gratitude and pride, especially reflecting on our incredibly successful 2nd Annual Spring Into Nurse Wellness Benefit Gala. This vibrant event, timed with National Nurses Week and Mental Health Awareness Month, truly celebrated the power of community, compassion, and shared purpose in championing nurse well-being. The resounding success of our gala, fueled by your generosity, allows us to continue expanding our mission of providing free, confidential, and virtual peer support to nurses across Wisconsin who are managing stress, burnout, and recovery. In this issue, you'll find highlights from the gala, updates on our impactful peer support meetings, and ways you can continue to help us create a stronger, more supportive healthcare environment for every nurse in Wisconsin. Thank you for being an integral part of the WisPAN family – together, we are truly making a difference!

Welcome to the WisPAN Wellness newsletter! This issue is packed with important updates and valuable information for Wisconsin nurses. From the launch of the Nurses Caring for Nurses (NCN) Task Force to insights on peer support and our growing impact, we're here to support you. Included in this edition: • A tribute to our dear friend and mentor Marie Manthey • Naloxone Direct Program • First quarter 2025 stats • Featured article of the month “The Science Of Peer Support” by Christopher Wojnar, MSN, APNP, PMHNP-BC • Spring Into Nurse Wellness Benefit Gala 2025!

While we are proud to have served 254 nurses through our weekly virtual peer support meetings, we recognize that this is just a fraction of the total nursing population in Wisconsin. Together, we have made significant strides in supporting nurse mental wellness and we are dedicated to exploring new ways to reach a wider audience and provide support to every nurse in Wisconsin.

The 2024 WisPAN Gala - Mental Wellness and Nurse Peer Support was a huge success. Read on to learn more! We are so grateful to those who came to support us. To see the Gala pics, visit the events page here: https://wipeeralliance.org/events/

We are so excited to share that we have officially launched our peer support program for nurse mental wellness!

Promoting holistic health and well-being, this edition offers tips and insights on maintaining a balanced lifestyle. It includes articles on nutrition, mental health, physical fitness, and stress management, encouraging readers to adopt healthier habits for overall wellness.

WisPAN, led by Kristin Waite-Labott, has significantly increased its support to nurses battling substance use disorder, now aiding 82 nurses monthly in 2023. A constructive meeting with Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez promises future collaborations. Testimonials and Melissa’s story reveal the profound impact of WisPAN, emphasizing the essential need for such support amidst the challenges of the nursing profession.

President Kristin Waite-Labott shares impactful stories of nurses overcoming substance use disorder (SUD) through WisPAN, highlighting courage and mutual support. With thousands in Wisconsin struggling silently, raising awareness and dismantling stigmas is crucial. With an estimated 10-15,000 Wisconsin nurses struggling silently, increasing awareness and dismantling stigmas around SUD is imperative.

Celebrating its first year, WisPAN has been pivotal for Wisconsin nurses battling substance use. Through bi-weekly confidential meetings and educational initiatives, it fosters support and awareness. The newsletter shares outreach efforts, impactful stories, and insights, underscoring WisPAN's commitment to this vital cause.