Registered nurses in Ontario will soon be able to prescribe certain medications such as birth control and drugs for smoking cessation. Health Minister Sylvia Jones says the move makes it more convenient to access care and will reduce wait times at community clinics and hospitals. The province says that the nurses will need to complete additional education to prescribe, and registration is set to open in January. The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario has long called for nurses to have prescribing power.
(The Canadian Press)