Registered Nurses Empowered to Prescribe Medications, Raising Concerns over Addictive Drugs

Registered nurses empowered to prescribe medications, raising concerns over addictive drugs

Tens of thousands of registered nurses across the country will soon be able to up-skill to prescribe medications usually given by a doctor. The move is meant to help address critical workforce shortages but there is some concern about the administering of more addictive drugs.

Registration standard extends registered nurses’ prescribing

In reply to John Smith. Agree. The reason is that spending money on one’s health is a need not a want. People don’t save their money to spend on needs, they save it to spend on wants. When it comes to getting an insurer to pay, the insurer ( whether it’s government or privately funded) will endeavour to pay as little as possible. ( Hence the importing of health workers from developing and third world countries). How many times have we ALL been q…

Endorsed RNs now able to prescribe scheduled medicines - Nursing Review

Australian registered nurses who have completed extra training are now able to prescribe some medications in partnership with either a doctor or nurse practitioner. The updated registration standard, announced in December 2024, comes into effect today and will see RNs with at least three years clinical experience become eligible to apply for an endorsement for prescribing scheduled medicines. They will then undergo a six-month clinical mentorshi…

Registered nurse prescribing standard takes effect – Australian College of Nursing

Tuesday September 30 2025 marks a pivotal moment in Australian nursing history. The new registration standard enabling registered nurses (RNs) to prescribe, in partnership with an authorised prescriber, officially takes effect – the biggest advancement for our profession in more than two decades. Are you a registered nurse? Here’s what you need to know: New prescribing pathway available: Registered nurses will be able to apply for endorsement t…