AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- NURSES (Permits a nurse who has the appropriate knowledge, credentials and clinical competency, to provide home services foot care, which includes routine foot and nail care, as well as implementing a plan of care that includes hygiene and fingernails.)

H7029A

2026 -- H 7029 SUBSTITUTE A
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LC003130/SUB A/2
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- NURSES

Introduced By:
Representatives Boylan, McGaw, Potter, Donovan, Fogarty, Speakman,
Azzinaro, Kislak, Bennett, and Hopkins

Date Introduced:
January 09, 2026

Referred To:
House Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 5-34 of the General Laws entitled "Nurses" is hereby amended by
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adding thereto the following section:
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5-34-51. Foot care.
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(a) The purpose of this section is to recognize and promote the rights of home care patients
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and clients to receive safe, appropriate, and high quality foot care and services in a timely manner
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with consideration, dignity, respect, and privacy, consistent with the provisions of § 23-17.16-5.
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(b) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless
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the context clearly indicates otherwise:
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(1) “Client education” includes, but is not limited to, the following:
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(i) Self-care, hygiene, and health habits;
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(ii) Appropriate footwear;
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(iii) Nutrition;
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(iv) Exercise;
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(v) Compliance with medical regime; and
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(vi) Reporting changes and problems to the patient’s podiatrist if one is provided or
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identified by the client.
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(2) “Home services” means services provided in an individual’s private residential space
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or dwelling. It includes houses, apartments, condominiums, or other buildings where people live
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independently or with limited personal assistance, such as an assisted living facility. It does not

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include facilities such as long-term care nursing homes, hospitals or other facilities or in-patient
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units where twenty-four (24) hour clinical care is available, nor does it include commercial or public
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spaces or the common/community areas of multi-unit dwellings such as apartment buildings,
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condominiums, or senior centers.
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(c) Nurses who provide home services foot care shall be licensed as a registered nurse and
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shall be certified and credentialed by a relevant national professional organization including, but
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not limited to, the American Foot Care Nurses Association or the Wound Ostomy and Continence
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Nursing Certification Board, or by another substantially equivalent national certifying organization
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approved by the department of health.
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Such nurses shall possess the requisite theoretical knowledge of, and shall demonstrate
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documented clinical competency in, the following areas, consistent with nationally recognized
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standards of foot care nursing practice:
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(1) Foot and lower extremity anatomy and physiology;
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(2) Structure and function of the foot and nail;
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(3) Common foot pathology and related nursing interventions;
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(4) Changes in the foot due to age and chronic diseases;
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(5) Nursing assessment of the foot and lower extremities;
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(6) Use of instruments used in nursing foot care; and
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(7) Infection control.
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(d) Home services foot care is considered a nursing intervention that includes, but is not
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limited to, the following components:
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(1) Assessing past medical history including diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease
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or peripheral neuropathy;
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(2) Assessing health habits affecting feet and lower extremities (activity level, exercise,
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obesity, diet, smoking, etc.);
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(3) Assessing circulation;
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(4) Assessing skin integrity, foot and nail structure;
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(5) Assessing pain and methods of relief; and
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(6) Implementing a plan of foot care that is consistent with recognized standards of practice
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that includes:
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(i) Hygiene and shortening of toe and finger nails;
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(ii) The use of emery boards or pedicure drill with emery disc attachment, to smooth corns
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or calluses;
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(iii) Referring the patient to an appropriate practitioner for further assessment and orders

LC003130/SUB A/2 - Page 2 of 4
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when alterations in skin integrity, foot structure and/or other abnormalities require application of
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prescribed or over-the-counter treatments/devices;
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(iv) Evaluating client response to a plan of care; and
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(v) Appropriate client education.
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(e) A nurse providing in-home foot care shall ensure that two (2) hours of continuing
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education out of the ten (10) hours required per certification period shall be focused on foot care.
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(f) A nurse whose home care services are limited to providing home services foot care
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pursuant to and as described in this section shall be exempt from the requirements of §§ 23-15-2
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and 23-17-42.
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(g) The department of health shall determine fair and reasonable license and renewal fees
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for nurses who provide services pursuant to this section.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- NURSES
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This act would permit a nurse who has the appropriate knowledge, credentials and clinical
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competency, to provide home services foot care, which would include routine foot and nail care,
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as well as implementing a plan of footcare that includes hygiene and the shortening of toe and
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finger nails. A nurse providing in-home foot care would ensure that two (2) hours of continuing
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education out of the ten (10) hours required per certification period would be focused on foot care.
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The department of health would determine fair and reasonable license and renewal fees for nurses
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providing services pursuant to this section.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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