The new Registration Standard: Endorsement for Scheduled Medicines – Designated Registered Nurse Prescriber, which was approved by health ministers last December, is now available on the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) website.

The standard outlines how qualified RNs can apply for endorsement to prescribe Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines in partnership with authorised health practitioners, including nurse practitioners and doctors, under a clinical governance framework and an active prescribing agreement. 

The standard will come into effect in September 2025 to give stakeholders time to prepare for the transformative change. The NMBA has produced supporting documents, including a fact sheet and guidelines, to help RNs understand and meet the endorsement requirements.

“This is a landmark moment for Australian nursing,” said NMBA Chair Adjunct Professor Veronica Casey. "We’re inviting the entire health community to join us on this journey.”

Access the registration standard, guidelines and fact sheet on the NMBA’s website here