Nurses to have power to prescribe medicines by end of year

NURSES will be able to prescribe painkillers, antibiotics and other medicines later this year under plans unveiled yesterday by Health Minister Mary Harney.

The move was flagged in the Irish Medicine Board Act 2006 and draft regulations have been completed to make it a reality this year, Ms Harney said.

The development willallow registered nurses and midwives, subject to education, experience and scope of practice, drug prescribing rights in clinical areas.