New RN Prescribing Rights 2026: The ‘Designated RN Prescriber’ Endorsement Explained
The gap between RN and NP has just closed.
For decades, Australian nursing has operated with a significant structural gap: the Registered Nurse (who administers medicines) and the Nurse Practitioner (who diagnoses and prescribes autonomously). On September 30, 2025, that gap was officially bridged with the enactment of the Registration Standard: Endorsement for Scheduled Medicines – Designated Registered Nurse Prescriber.
This new endorsement is the biggest shift in nursing scope of practice in a generation. It allows experienced RNs to complete episodes of care—prescribing antibiotics for a wound infection, titration of heart failure meds, or initiating analgesia—without waiting for a doctor’s signature.
However, this is not a “free-for-all.” It is a highly regulated, partnership-based model designed to increase access to healthcare in rural, remote, and aged care settings.
Here is your comprehensive guide to the new endorsement, the eligibility checklist, and the reality of the “Partnership Model.”
1. What Can You Prescribe? (The Scope)
The most significant win in this legislation is the inclusion of Schedule 8 medicines. Previous iterations of “rural” endorsements often excluded controlled drugs, limiting their utility in palliative and acute care. The Designated RN Prescriber endorsement covers the full spectrum of Scheduled Medicines, provided they are within the nurse’s scope and the Prescribing Agreement.
Comparison of Prescribing Authority
| Feature | Standard RN | Designated RN Prescriber (New) | Nurse Practitioner (NP) |
| Authority | Administer & Supply (under order) | Prescribe (under Partnership) | Prescribe (Independent) |
| Autonomy | None (Doctor dependent) | Collaborative (Requires Agreement) | Autonomous |
| Medicine Scope | S2, S3, S4, S8 (Administer) | S2, S3, S4, AND S8 (Prescribe) | All Schedules |
| Education | Bachelor of Nursing | Graduate Certificate (AQF 8) | Master of Nurse Practitioner |
| Mentorship | Standard support | 6-Month Clinical Mentorship | 5,000 hrs Advanced Practice |
### 💊 KNOW YOUR SCHEDULES
Schedule 2 (Pharmacy Medicine): Available on shelf at pharmacies (e.g., large pack Paracetamol, Ibuprofen). You can now chart these independently in hospitals/aged care.
Schedule 3 (Pharmacist Only): Behind the counter (e.g., Ventolin inhalers, some antihistamines). You can prescribe/supply these for immediate treatment.
Schedule 4 (Prescription Only): The bulk of medicines (e.g., Antibiotics, Antihypertensives, Cholesterol meds). You can prescribe these for acute and chronic conditions defined in your agreement.
Schedule 8 (Controlled Drugs): Drugs of addiction (e.g., Oxycodone, Morphine, Fentanyl). You can prescribe these ONLY if explicitly authorised in your Prescribing Partnership and aligned with state laws.
2. The “Partnership” Catch: It Is Not Independent Practice
It is critical to understand that this endorsement does not allow you to hang up a shingle and open a private clinic alone.
The Designated RN Prescriber model is built entirely on a Prescribing Partnership. To use your endorsement, you must have a formal “Prescribing Agreement” with an Authorised Health Practitioner (AHP)—defined as a Medical Practitioner (Doctor) or a Nurse Practitioner.
How it works in real life:
The Agreement: You and a GP (or NP) sign a document outlining your scope. For example, in an Aged Care facility, the GP might authorise you to prescribe antibiotics for UTIs and simple analgesia, but exclude complex cardiac meds.
The Workflow: You assess the patient. You diagnose the condition (within your scope). You write the prescription. You do not need to call the doctor for permission at that moment. However, the doctor remains a collaborator in the patient’s care.
State-Based Restrictions: While the endorsement is national, state laws (Poisons Acts) still apply. For example, Victoria is rolling this out in phases (starting with hospitals and aged care), meaning you may not be able to use the endorsement in private practice immediately in all states.
3. Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Endorsed
The pathway is rigorous. It requires a mix of clinical experience, university study, and supervised practice.
Step 1: The “5,000 Hours” Rule
You must prove you have 3 years (5,000 hours) of full-time equivalent clinical experience as a registered nurse within the last 6 years. This ensures only experienced clinicians take on this risk.
Step 2: The Qualification (Graduate Certificate)
You must complete an NMBA-approved program of study.
Level: AQF Level 8 (Graduate Certificate).
Availability: The first approved courses (e.g., Graduate Certificate in Registered Nurse Prescribing) commenced enrolments in early 2026.
Providers: Universities such as La Trobe, Griffith, and Melbourne have launched or are launching these programs.
Cost: Look for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) which can significantly reduce fees.
Step 3: The Mentorship (Post-Graduation)
Once you finish your course and get the endorsement on your registration, you cannot prescribe immediately. You must complete a 6-month Clinical Mentorship with your partner (Doctor or NP). This is a transition-to-practice period to ensure your prescribing is safe and competent.
4. Why Do This? (Career Benefits)
Autonomy: No more chasing doctors for “routine” scripts. You can treat what you see.
Rural & Remote Impact: In areas with no permanent doctor, this endorsement is a game-changer. You can legally initiate treatment for infections or pain without delay.
Career Pathway: This serves as a perfect “stepping stone” to becoming a Nurse Practitioner. The experience and education gained here often map directly to the Master of Nurse Practitioner requirements.
Pay Potential: While there is no specific “Prescriber Award” yet, RNs with this endorsement are negotiating higher pay rates (often Clinical Nurse Specialist or Level 3/4 equivalent) because they generate revenue and free up medical staff.
5. FAQ
Q: Is this the same as a Nurse Practitioner?
A: No. A Nurse Practitioner works independently and has a much broader scope (diagnostics, referrals, all medicines). A Designated RN Prescriber works in partnership with a doctor/NP and has a scope limited to that partnership agreement.
Q: Can I open my own clinic?
A: No. You cannot practice independently. You must have a Prescribing Agreement with a doctor or NP. If that partnership dissolves, your authority to prescribe in that context ends.
Q: Can I prescribe PBS medicines?
A: This depends on your employment setting. Nurse Practitioners have their own PBS prescriber numbers. Designated RN prescribing is currently evolving regarding PBS access; in many cases, scripts may be “private” (non-subsidised) unless specific state-based public health arrangements are in place.
Q: What about Schedule 8 drugs (Opioids)?
A: Yes, you can prescribe them, but this is the most strictly regulated area. Your Prescribing Agreement must explicitly allow it, and you must follow all state-based Real-Time Prescription Monitoring (e.g., SafeScript) laws. Many agreements may initially exclude S8s or limit them to palliative care settings.
