Ontario Expanding Role of Registered Nurses to Prescribe and Administer More Medications

The Ontario government is making it easier and more convenient for people to connect to care by expanding the role of registered nurses to prescribe medications, after meeting specific requirements, for certain conditions such as contraception, immunizations, smoking cessation, and topical wound care in a variety of settings close to home, including long-term care homes and retirement homes.

Starting in January 2024, registration is expected to open for registered nurses interested in completing the additional education requirements to work more independently in their community settings. As more registered nurses complete the training, more people will have faster access to birth control, drugs for smoking cessation, and travel medications to treat and prevent malaria and traveller’s diarrhea. People will also be able to receive topical wound care and conveniently get their vaccinations such as the flu shot and COVID-19 vaccines prescribed from a registered nurse. Supporting Ontario’s highly trained registered nurses to connect people to the care they need will also give doctors and nurse practitioners more time to treat those with more complex needs.

The educational training programs that will be offered at certain colleges and universities are being developed and require approval from the Council of the College of Nurses of Ontario. This will ensure registered nurses can acquire the knowledge, skill and judgement needed to conveniently prescribe and administer more medications.

As part of Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is making it easier for regulated health care professionals to work to the full extent of their training and expertise to provide patients with a more connected, convenient health care experience.