Can a licensed practical nurse perform body sculpting using cold methods (such as CoolSculpting®) or heat methods (such as Vanquish™) for fat removal?

The nursing laws and rules allow a competent and appropriately trained licensed practical nurse to apply cold therapy (cryotherapy) or heat therapy for fat removal under the direction of an authorized health care practitioner or under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse. These procedures require a prescription from an authorized health care practitioner. The licensed practical nurse should use the Scope of Practice Decision Tree to determine if these activities are within the nurse's legal and individual scope of practice.