Designated Registered Nurse Prescriber Prescribing Agreement and Guidelines

Overview

Designated registered nurse prescribing

On 30 September 2025, the new registration standard Endorsement for scheduled medicines - designated registered nurse prescriber (the registration standard) came into effect. 

The registration standard enables suitably educated, qualified and experienced registered nurses (RNs) to apply for endorsement for scheduled medicines with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. It is in strong alignment with key Government objectives to ensure healthcare is suitable, equitable and accessible for all Australians.

Qualified RNs who gain endorsement as a designated RN prescriber will be able to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, supply and/or use Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines under the following conditions:

• within the RN's competence and scope of practice
• within a clinical governance framework
• in partnership with an authorised health practitioner
• under an active prescribing agreement
• in accordance with relevant state and territory drugs and poisons legislation

Designated RN prescribing represents a natural progression of the RN role. Empowering RNs to gain prescribing endorsement creates a new pathway for patients to access medicines safely and effectively, while improving access to essential healthcare services and easing pressures on acute and primary care settings - particularly vulnerable populations and those living in regional, rural and remote communities. 

An Implementation Oversight Group (IOG) has been established to guide the national implementation of designated RN prescribing and support consistency in approach and content. The IOG has endorsed key resources which are a governance requirement of, and will support, the implementation of the Registration Standard. The resources include a Designated Registered Nurse Prescriber Prescribing Agreement (Prescribing Agreement) and a Designated Registered Nurse Prescriber Clinical Mentorship Agreement which enable national consistency while allowing local flexibility according to jurisdictional legislation or policy. 

The Western Australia (WA) Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office (CNMO) is leading designated RN prescribing within the State and is seeking feedback on the Prescribing Agreement from consumers, family members, support people, and clinical and non-clinical health employees from all sectors.

In addition, the CNMO has prepared the WA Designated Registered Nurse Prescribing Guidelines to support the Prescribing Agreement and is also seeking feedback on this document.  

Why your views matter

Consultation of the proposed Prescribing Agreement and Guidelines is critical to ensure governance structures for designated RN prescribing are safe, equitable, and align with contemporary healthcare needs.