NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 72 — 18 AUGUST 2016

Copies of the standard may be inspected free of charge at the offices of the External Reporting Board (XRB), Level 7, 50 Manners Street, Wellington. Copies are also available on the XRB’s website at
www.xrb.govt.nz

Dated this 16th day of August 2016.

KIMBERLEY CROOK, Chair, New Zealand Accounting Standards Board.

2016-gs4731

Notice of Replacement and Revocation of Notices for Registered Nurses

This notice is given pursuant to sections 11 and 12 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, and the Medicines (Designated Prescriber – Registered Nurses) Regulations 2016 made under sections 105 and 105B of the Medicines Act 1981, and comes into effect on 20 September 2016.

On 20 September 2016 it replaces the Notice of Replacement by the Nursing Council of New Zealand of Scope of Practice and Prescribed Qualifications for Registered Nurses, published in the New Zealand Gazette, 9 July 2015, Issue No. 74, Notice No. 2015-gs3932, and on 30 November 2016 it replaces the Medicines (Designated Prescriber – Registered Nurses Practising in Diabetes Health) Notice 2011, as published in the New Zealand Gazette, 31 March 2011, No. 41, page 1006.

Dated at Wellington this 18th day of August 2016.

CAROLYN REED, Registrar, Nursing Council of New Zealand.

Explanatory note

Introduction

Under the Medicines (Designated Prescriber – Registered Nurses) Regulations 2016 made under the Medicines Act 1981, the Nursing Council of New Zealand ("Council") may set qualifications, training and assessment requirements for registered nurses commencing to prescribe for the first time and other training and assessments to be completed at specified times. These are outlined in the notice titled Medicines (Designated Prescriber – Registered Nurses) Notice 2016, published in the New Zealand Gazette, 18 August 2016, Issue No. 72, Notice No. 2016-gs4683.

Under sections 11(2) and 12 the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, the Nursing Council of New Zealand is required to describe the scopes of practice for nursing in New Zealand and prescribe the qualifications for each scope of practice.

Changes coming into effect on 20 September 2016

In February 2013, the Council proposed that some suitably qualified and experienced registered nurses working in primary health and specialist teams be able to prescribe some prescription medicines. Previously prescribing was restricted to suitably qualified nurses in diabetes health.

The Council sought the views of stakeholders, including nurses, nurse practitioners, nursing organisations, medical organisations, pharmacist organisations, regulatory authorities and PHARMAC, district health boards, primary health organisations, Māori and Pacific health providers, and consumer groups. The consultation document was also available on the Council website for public comment. One hundred and ninety seven submissions were received with the majority in favour of this proposal. In October 2014, the Council applied to the Ministry of Health for designated prescribing rights for registered nurses practising in primary health and specialty teams. The proposal was agreed to by the Government in November 2015 and the Medicines (Designated Prescriber – Registered Nurses) Regulations 2016 and Misuse of Drugs Amendment Regulations 2016 were made by the Executive Council in June 2016.

The Council is also amending the scope of practice to allow some registered nurses to prescribe prescription medicines and including the education and training requirements for registered nurses prescribing in primary health and specialty teams as additional prescribed qualifications for registered nurses. This means that the Council is able to approve and monitor these programmes under section 12 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 and aligns the scope of practice and prescribed qualifications for registered nurses with the requirements of the Medicines (Designated Prescriber – Registered Nurses) Regulations 2016.

When registered nurses apply to the Council and meet the requirements to prescribe for the first time a condition/authorisation will be included in their scope of practice, on their practising certificates and the public register (on the Council’s website) to specify that they may prescribe within primary health and specialty teams.

The Medicines (Designated Prescriber – Registered Nurses practising in Diabetes Health) Regulations 2011 will be revoked on 30 November 2016. Registered nurses authorised to prescribe in diabetes health will be notified that they are authorised under the new regulation from 30 November 2016 and continue to have a condition in

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