Nurses will soon be able to prescribe PBS drugs. Here’s what that means for you

Imagine your elderly father is in an aged care home. It’s Friday afternoon, and he’s run out of his regular Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) blood pressure medication and he can’t get an appointment with the GP. Currently, the registered nurse (RN) at the aged care home can assess his blood pressure to see if it’s stable, and administer medication prescribed by a doctor. But the RN cannot issue a new prescription. From October 1, this will change. That’s because new legislation has been…