Registered Nurses Can Now Prescribe Medicines in Australia: What You Need to Know

From today, 30 September 2025, a major change has come into effect in Australia’s healthcare system: qualified registered nurses (RNs) can now apply for endorsement to prescribe medicines.

This reform, led by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), aims to improve patient access to essential medicines, particularly in rural and regional communities, while easing pressure on over-stretched doctors and health services.

What’s Changing

Under the new Endorsement for scheduled medicines – designated registered nurse prescriber standard, endorsed RNs will be able to:

• Administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, supply and/or use medicines listed in Schedules 2, 3, 4, and 8.

• Prescribe in partnership with an authorised health practitioner (such as a medical doctor or nurse practitioner), under a formal prescribing agreement.

This means nurses won’t be fully independent prescribers. Instead, they’ll work within a collaborative model, designed to expand safe access to care while maintaining strong clinical oversight.

Who Is Eligible?

Not every nurse will automatically gain prescribing rights. To be endorsed as a designated RN prescriber, nurses must meet strict requirements, including:

• Clinical experience: At least 5,000 hours of practice in the past six years.

• Education: Completion of approved postgraduate units leading to the endorsement.

• Good standing: No restrictions or conditions on their nursing registration that would affect prescribing.

• Supervision: A six-month clinical mentorship with an authorised prescriber when they first begin prescribing.

Endorsed RNs must also follow local medicines and poisons legislation in their state or territory, and prescribe only within their competence and workplace policies.

Why It Matters

This reform is seen as a practical response to Australia’s ongoing health system challenges:

• Improved access: Patients in remote and underserved areas may be able to access medicines faster.

• Reduced pressure: Doctors, especially GPs, may see reduced prescribing workload.

• Workforce development: Nurses gain an expanded scope of practice, reflecting their skills and experience.

However, the rollout will vary across states and territories depending on how quickly local legislation adapts.

A Balanced Step Forward

While nurse practitioners in Australia already have independent prescribing rights, this reform introduces a new tier of prescribing that keeps nurses working in partnership with doctors and other authorised prescribers.

Health leaders describe it as a measured but significant step forward, one that balances safety with innovation, while ensuring patients continue to receive high-quality care.

As of today, registered nurses who meet strict training and experience requirements can apply to become endorsed prescribers. While not fully independent, this change opens the door to better access to medicines and a more flexible, sustainable health system.