Designated registered nurse prescribing
Suitably qualified registered nurses can apply for a Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) endorsement. This endorsement allows eligible registered nurses to prescribe certain scheduled medicines in partnership with an authorised health practitioner, within their scope of practice and in line with ACT and national legislation.
The Health and Community Services Directorate is leading implementation of designated registered nurse (RN) prescribing in the Canberra Health Service.
NMBA endorsement as a designated RN prescriber does not equate to being able to prescribe in practice. Registered nurses with NMBA endorsement, working in the ACT public health service, must seek approval from their employer and be appropriately credentialed prior to prescribing.
What this means
The NMBA endorses a designated RN prescriber to prescribe in partnership with an authorised health practitioner and can administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, supply and use Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines, where appropriate clinical governance arrangements are in place.
To prescribe, a designated RN prescriber must:
- be endorsed by NMBA for scheduled medicines – designated RN prescriber
- have an active prescribing agreement with an authorised health practitioner that is approved by their employer/health service
- have an active clinical mentorship agreement with an authorised health practitioner
- have undertaken, or be undertaking, a six-month period of clinical mentorship with an authorised health practitioner to develop confidence and competence in prescribing
- practice within a clinical governance framework
- comply with relevant ACT and Australian Government legislation and Quality Use of Medicines principles.
This table compares the prescribing scope for registered nurses, designated RN prescribers, and nurse practitioners.
Registered Nurse (RN) | Designated RN Prescriber | Nurse Practitioner (NP) | |
|---|---|---|---|
Education and Experience Requirements | Completion of an NMBA-approved entry-to-practice qualification (Bachelor or Master of Nursing, AQF Level 7). | Completion of an NMBA-approved postgraduate qualification (AQF Level 8) for designated RN prescribing. Minimum of three years full-time equivalent (5,000 hours) clinical experience as an RN within the past six years. | Completion of an NMBA-approved Master of Nurse Practitioner qualification (AQF Level 9). Minimum of three years full-time equivalent (5,000 hours) experience at an advanced practice level within the past six years. |
NMBA Endorsement | No | Yes Endorsement as a designated RN prescriber, including authorisation to prescribe scheduled medicines. | Yes Endorsement as a Nurse Practitioner. |
Scope of Prescribing Practice | Can identify the need for medicines and supply/administer medicines in accordance with approved clinical protocols, standing orders, or policies. | Can assesses patients and prescribe scheduled medicines within a defined clinical governance framework and scope of practice, under a formal prescribing agreement with an authorised health practitioner, and in compliance with state and territory medicines and poisons legislation and regulations. | Can autonomously assess, diagnose, treat, and prescribe scheduled medicines within their endorsed scope of practice and in accordance with state and territory medicines and poisons legislation and regulations. |
Registration Standard
The registration standard outlines how registered nurses can qualify for endorsement to prescribe scheduled medicines under section 94 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (National Law).
It defines the requirements for registered nurses to seek endorsement from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) as a designated RN prescriber and the ongoing requirements maintain the endorsement.
Endorsement eligibility criteria
When applying for the endorsement for scheduled medicines − designated RN prescriber, a registered nurse must be able to demonstrate all the following:
- Current general registration as a registered nurse in Australia with no conditions or undertakings relevant to this endorsement.
- The equivalent of three years’ full-time post-initial registration clinical experience (5,000 hours) within the past six years, from the date when the complete application seeking endorsement for scheduled medicines as a designated RN prescriber is received by the NMBA.
- Successful completion of an NMBA-approved unit of study leading to endorsement for scheduled medicines as a designated RN prescriber, or
- Units of study that are equivalent to the NMBA-approved units of study leading to endorsement for scheduled medicines as a designated RN prescriber.
National implementation and oversight group
The Designated RN Prescribing Implementation Oversight Group is ensuring national consistency in approach to designated RN prescribing and undertaking consultation and engagement with key national level stakeholders, such as:
- The Australian Medical Association
- The Australian College of Nursing
- The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners
- The Royal College of General Practitioners.
The group provides quarterly progress updates to the National Health Workforce Taskforce and oversees nationally consistent implementation. Communiques on designated RN prescribing can be found on the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
Approved education programs
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (Anmac) develops the national accreditation standards used to assess nursing and midwifery education programs. Programs that meet these standards are approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and published on the NMBA website.
The NMBA maintains a list of all accredited and approved programs of study that lead to endorsement as a designated registered nurse (RN) prescriber. This information is available on the NMBA Approved Programs of Study page.
Registered nurses seeking endorsement as a designated RN prescriber must complete a program of study that has been approved and is listed by the NMBA.
Scholarships
ACT nurses can apply for financial assistance through a range of scholarships opportunities delivered by the ACT Government, the Australian College of Nursing and the Australian Nurses Memorial Center (ANMC).
Related information
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Anmac registered nurse prescribing accreditation standards
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NMBA registration standard
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Guidelines for registered nurses applying for scheduled medicines - designated registered nurse prescriber
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Registration standard: Endorsement for scheduled medicines - designated registered nurse prescriber
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National prescribing competencies framework
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NMBA approved programs of study
Contact us
For NMBA enquiries email rnprescribing@nursingandmidwiferyboard.gov.au.
For all other enquiries email the ACT Nursing and Midwifery Office at NMO@act.gov.au – use the subject heading ‘Designated RN Prescribing’.