A registered nurse who worked at my laser center in Minnesota has recently been investigated by the state nursing board and the attorney general's office. This inquiry caused me to review Minnesota law on the subject of laser operation by non-physicians. Minnesota law defines the performance of any procedure involving the use of a laser upon any person as the "practice of medicine". Minnesota law provides an exception from this definition for any person LICENSED by a health-related licensing board... provided the person confines activities within the scope of the license.

The Minnesota Nursing Board allows nurses to operate "prescription devices" only under very specific circumstances, which include having a written agreement with a physician which defines the delegated responsibilities and is based on standards established by the Minnesota Nurses Association and the Minnesota Medical Association. The relevant statute appears to limit this authority to "certified clinical nurse specialists" who have succssfully completed no less than 30 hours of formal study from a college, university, or university health care institution which includes instruction in all aspects of the use and applications of the prescription device, etc.

Does anyone have knowledge of a university or other facility which provides this type of instruction and certification? I would appreciate hearing about any programs which could help me satisfy this requirement in the future. Thank-you.

Ron,
Thanks for the heads up on the RN Board investigation. That's the craziest thing I've heard/read so far. There is no nationally recognized "certification" for RN's or any other medical professional for that matter in Lasers. And why are they investigating your RN when all the plastics and derms in the city (you know who they are) is using Ethetician's or RN's to do %80 percent of their procedures?

I'm curious to see what conclusion they draw of any. I hope they drop to whole thing.