B.C. nurses will soon be able to prescribe opioid use disorder medication – CBC

RNs, RPNs will need to complete training from B.C. Centre on Substance Use to prescribe medication

Nov 01, 2023

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses in B.C. will soon be able to prescribe medication for opioid use disorder (OUD) in a move the province hopes will allow more people with addiction to seek help.

The B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) announced in September that it had created a new designation of certified practice, to allow RNs and RPNs to diagnose and treat substance use disorder after completing training from the B.C. Centre on Substance Use.

Previously, prescribing OUD medication was the domain of doctors and nurse practitioners in B.C., which has been gripped by a toxic drug crisis for a number of years.

The president of the B.C. Nurses’ Union says the news is a positive first step, but more needs to be done to get addictions treatment to people who need it, especially in non-urban areas of B.C.

B.C. nurses will soon be able to prescribe opioid use disorder medication – CBC

NationTalk Partners & Sponsors Learn More