The position of NCSBN is to have each state deal with the issue as each state deals with massage and other complementary therapies differently.

Arkansas has a position statement that they took which I believe mirrors the philosophy of a lot of the State Boards...it can be accessed at www.state.ar.us/nurse . It is called Position Statement 98-6 Decision Making Model and I think is a good model incorporating the issues of competency and education to perform complementary therapies.

The following states are ok with nurses doing massage therapy...Iowa, Kansas (state that massage is unregulated and no other statutes limits this), Kentucky (allows Healing touch and Reiki and also uses language of "documented evidence of education and experience to perform".

LA ok

MA...ok except for herbal therapies

MS...ok...uses language of "additional preparation"

MO...takes EACH case individually (Norma Harnack did her documentation for the Board and got an ok as an example)

NV 0k

NC massage separately licensed

SD OK

VT OK

AZ--not regulated by State, but by municipalities

SC, MD, CO, FL, NH , NM, UT all ok

(information subject to change. Check with your Nursing Board to verify your facts before making important decisions)

Dear Ms. Spencer:

Thank you for your correspondence over the last several months and your appearance before the South Carolina Board of Nursing related to licensed nurses incorporating massage therapy into their practice.

The South Carolina Board of Nursing agreed on September 28, 2000, that the incorporation of massage therapy by Licensed Massage Therapists into the practice of nursing by Registered Nurses, and Licensed Practical Nurses under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, constitutes nursing practice in South Carolina. Therefore, hours spent in nurse massage therapy by licensed nurses will apply towards the practice requirement for annual license renewal in South Carolina.

If requested by the Board of Nursing during license renewal procedures, nurse massage therapists must be able to provide job descriptions for review, which document the integration of the practice of nursing with the practice of massage therapy, and the number of hours spent in this practice.

It is our intent to also submit this decision for publication in the next issue of the SC Nurse, published by the South Carolina Nurses' Association in collaboration with the South Carolina Board of Nursing.

If the South Carolina Board of Nursing or I may help you in the future, please call me at (803) 896-4522.

Sincerely,

Robert E. Barnwell, RN

Program Nurse Consultant

SC Board of Nursing