EmailLaw changed to allow nurses to supply medicines
On 24 March 2010, a bill was passed to amend the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act (DPCS Act) to allow for the Minister to authorise, under certain conditions, registered nurses who are endorsed as being suitably qualified by the National Nursing and Midwifery Board, i.e. Rural and Isolated Practice Registered Nurse (RIPRN) to possess, sell or supply poisons.
The amendment to the Act that will authorize RIPRNs to supply medicines is as follows:
In section 13(1) of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981
(bb) any registered nurse whose registration is endorsed under section 94 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law is hereby authorised to obtain and have in his or her possession and to use, sell or supply any Schedule 2, 3, 4 or 8 poison approved by the Minister in relation to the relevant category of nurse in the lawful practice of his or her profession as a registered nurse
In section 14A(1A) Without limiting subsection (1), for the purposes of an authorisation under section 13(1)(bb), the Minister may approve:
(a) the health services or class of health services in which the poison or class of poison is to be used, sold or supplied; and
(b) the clinical circumstances in which a registered nurse or class of registered nurse may use, sell or supply any Schedule 2, 3, 4 or 8 poison or class of Schedule 2, 3, 4 or 8 poison.
Proposal to change the law to enable nurses to supply medicines
The Department of Health (formerly part of the Department of Human Services) put forward a proposal to change the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act (1981) and Health Professions Registration Act (2005) to authorise appropriately trained registered nurses (Division 1) working in rural Victoria to supply medicines for specific conditions, under certain circumstances and according to evidence-based protocols.
Prior to this proposal, registered nurses were authorised to administer medicine under a doctor's order, or in accordance with standing orders, if the nurse is competent to do so and it is not possible to contact a doctor and/or immediate treatment is necessary in order to save a person's life or prevent serious injury to a person's health.
Changing these arrangements relating to nurses' capacity to supply medicine may maximise the health services' capacity to deliver safe services in rural communities. For example, on weekends in some rural communities where there is no pharmacist or doctor present, people presenting at the emergency service needing antibiotics or pain relief have to return to the hospital for every dose required. There is evidence in other parts of Australia that enabling nurses to supply medicines for particular conditions and under specific circumstances is safe and does improve access to health care.
Proposal to change the law to enable nurses to supply medicines (34kb, pdf)
