State-by-State Regulations on Conservative Sharp Debridement by Nurses in the United States

Last updated on 11/3/21 | First published on 9/12/19 | Literature review current through Mar. 2025 [cite]

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Instructions: 1. Click on the header of each column to sort (e.g., click on "State" to sort by state in alphabetical order), or use the "search" field to find a specific state. Regulations change constantly so readers may want to check with their respective Board of Nursing for most current information. Source: Adapted from Tomaselli N, 2015.[1]

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State	Board of Nursing	Regulation Summary
Wyoming	Wyoming State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
West Virginia	West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses	The board has not made a definitive statement regarding RNs or LPNs performing CSWD. They recommend using the decision-making model.
Washington	Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission	RNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill. The LPN practice act does not address this skill. If the LPN chooses to perform this procedure, they should meet the same criteria as an RN and work under supervision of an RN or MD.
Virginia	Virginia State Board of Nursing	RNs and LPNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s and LPN’s capacity to perform this skill
Vermont	Vermont State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Utah	Utah State Board of Nursing	RNs and LPNs may only perform CSWD under the direct and visual supervision of a physician who is delegating the task.
Texas	Texas Board of Nurse Examiners	RNs and LPNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s and LPN’s capacity to perform this skill
Tennessee	Tennessee State Board of Nursing	RNs and LPNs may not perform CSWD.
South Dakota	South Dakota State Board of Nursing	RNs and LPNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s and LPN’s capacity to perform this skill
South Carolina	South Carolina State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Rhode Island	Rhode Island State Board of Nursing	RNs and LPNs may not perform CSWD.
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill.The LPN practice act has no definitive statement, and no ruling has been made by the board. If the LPN chooses to engage in this skill, they should at least meet the criteria of an RN.
Oregon	Oregon State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Oklahoma	Oklahoma State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill. LPNs may perform this procedure under the direct supervision of an RN or physician as well as meeting the RN criteria.
Ohio	Ohio State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill. LPNs can also perform this procedure, if they meet the same criteria as RNs.
North Dakota	North Dakota State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
North Carolina	North Carolina State Board of Nursing	RNs and LPNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s and LPN’s capacity to perform this skill
New York	New York State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
New Mexico	New Mexico State Board of Nursing	RNs and LPNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s and LPN’s capacity to perform this skill.
New Jersey	New Jersey State Board of Nursing	The state board has made no specific ruling regarding CSWD. RNs and LPNs must use the decision-making model algorithm.
New Hampshire	New Hampshire State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Nevada	Nevada State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Nebraska	Nebraska Health and Human Services System	RNs and LPNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s and LPN’s capacity to perform this skill. LPNs must work under the direct supervision of the RN.
Montana	Montana State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Missouri	Missouri State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill. The board has not made a practice decision for LPNs and advises use of a decision-making tree
Mississippi	Mississippi State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Minnesota	Minnesota State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill. LPNs may perform CSWD if competent (additional education and clinical practice), and the RN delegates the task to the LPN. Facility policy and procedures should reflect the LPN’s capacity to perform this skill.
Michigan	Michigan Board of Nursing	RNs and LPNs can perform CSWD as long as they have had education and training and work under the supervision of a physician. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s and LPN’s capacity to perform this skill.
Massachusetts	Massachusetts State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill.
Maryland	Maryland State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Maine	Maine State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Louisiana	Louisiana State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. They must also have validation of technical skills on an annual basis. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill. LPNs may not perform this procedure.
Kentucky	Kentucky State Board of Nursing	RNs and LPNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s and LPN’s capacity to perform this skill
Kansas	Kansas State Nursing Board	RNs and LPNs may not perform CSWD. Consult with the board. Nurses might be able to perform this procedure provided: The hospital must have policies outlining the required knowledge and procedures. The nurse must be adequately trained on sharp debridement and a periodic review is completed as evidence of maintained competence.
Iowa	Iowa State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Indiana	Indiana State Board of Nursing	The practice act does not address CSWD, and the board has not ruled on this procedure. The RN/LPN must check with facility/institution’s policy and procedure and/or an attorney regarding this matter.
Illinois	Illinois Department of Professional Regulation	RNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill.
Idaho	Idaho State Board of Nursing	Per the state board, RNs must use the decisionmaking tree for CSWD. LPNs may perform this procedure if delegated by an RN, and the RN deems they are competent. The board has not made a definitive decision on this matter. LPNs may not perform this procedure.
Hawaii	Hawaii State Board of Nursing	Per the state board, there is no definitive statement allowing or prohibiting RNs and LVNs from performing CSWD. There is no established decision-making tree to follow
Georgia	Georgia State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform CSWD as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill.
Florida	Florida State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Delaware	Delaware State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Connecticut	Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Colorado	Colorado State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
California	California State Board of Registered Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Arkansas	Arkansas State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Arizona	Arizona State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course nd had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill
Alaska	Alaska State Board of Nursing	The Nursing board determined that it is an acceptable practice only for the CETN/CWOCN to perform sharp debridement. They must have a physician’s order and a clear policy and procedure at their place of employment.
Alabama	Alabama State Board of Nursing	RNs can perform sharp debridement as long as they have taken a course and had supervised clinical practice. The facility policy and procedures must reflect the RN’s capacity to perform this skill

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NOTE: This is a controlled document. This document is not a substitute for proper training, experience, and exercising of professional judgment. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, neither the authors nor the Wound Reference, Inc. give any guarantee as to the accuracy of the information contained in them nor accept any liability, with respect to loss, damage, injury or expense arising from any such errors or omissions in the contents of the work.

REFERENCES

Tomaselli N. Regulations for Conservative Sharp Debridement for Nurses in the USA In: Téot L., Meaume S., Akita S., Ennis W.J., del Marmol V. (eds) Skin Necrosis Springer, Vienna. 2015;.

Topic 1413 Version 1.0

State-by-State Regulations on Conservative Sharp Debridement by Nurses in the United States

State-by-State Regulations on Conservative Sharp Debridement by Nurses in the United States

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