The Ontario government is expanding the role of registered nurses by giving them the power to prescribe and administer more medications.
Beginning in January 2024, registered nurses will be able to register for additional training to allow them to prescribe medication for contraception, smoking cessation, and travel medications to treat and prevent malaria and traveller’s diarrhea. RNs will also be able to administer immunizations and topical wound care.
The province said the move will allow nurses to administer care faster and closer to home in settings such as long-term care homes and retirement homes.
The new education training programs for RNs are currently being developed and will be offered at certain colleges and universities. The programs will also require approval from the Council of the College of Nurses of Ontario.
“We are collaborating with health system partners and creating the standards that promote safe nursing practice,” said Silvie Crawford, the executive director and CEO of the College of Nurses of Ontario. “This includes ensuring changes in nurses’ scope of practice, including RN prescribing, are implemented safely for all Ontarians.”
The new prescribing powers for nurses come just over a month after the province expanded the list of ailments pharmacists can treat in Ontario.