The 2025 Burn Nursing Scope & Standards: Advancing Specialty Practice and Quality in Burn Care

In August 2020, burn nursing achieved formal specialty recognition from the American Nurses Association. That milestone affirmed what burn nurses have long demonstrated: specialized knowledge, advanced competencies, and accountability across the continuum of care. 

The 2025 edition of Burn Nursing: Scope & Standards of Practice builds on that foundation. 

Formally reviewed and approved by the ANA Board of Directors, this edition incorporates the 18 national practice standards and professional performance competencies  from the 4th edition of Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (2025). When integrated with ABA’s burn-specific nurse competencies, it creates a comprehensive framework that defines specialty nursing practice in burn care. 

Why This Matters Now 

Burn care continues to evolve in complexity, team-based delivery models, and verification expectations. The updated Scope & Standards support: 

• Consistent, evidence-informed care across settings 

• Alignment with verification and quality initiatives 

• Structured onboarding and competency validation 

• Annual performance evaluation and career progression 

• Interdisciplinary collaboration and shared governance 

 This document articulates the actions, behaviors, and performance criteria expected of registered nurses practicing in burn care nationwide. It strengthens accountability while reinforcing burn nursing as a distinct specialty. 

 For early-career nurses, it provides clarity and structure in an area often underrepresented in traditional nursing education. For experienced nurses and leaders, it offers an updated framework to guide policy, education programs, research initiatives, and program administration. 

 “As burn care advances, our standards must evolve with it,” says Gretchen J. Carrougher, MN, RN, CBRN, ABA Board member. “This edition ensures alignment with national ANA standards while reinforcing the specialized expertise that defines burn nursing.” 

 Sustaining specialty recognition requires maintaining current standards, integrating competencies, and aligning practice with national expectations. The 2025 edition supports that responsibility. 

"The 2025 Burn Nursing Scope & Standards of Practice strengthens consistency across teams and aligns burn nursing with the current American Nurses Association’s national standards,” said Sylvia Dao, MS, MPA, RN, NE-BC, Chair, ABA Nursing Committee. “It’s an essential resource for competency development, onboarding, and maintaining specialty recognition.”

If the 2021 edition is still in use, now is the time to update.