Registered Psychiatric Nurse (Authorized Prescriber) Role

The Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) includes provisions that expand the RPN profession’s scope of practice by establishing a new RPN (Authorized Prescriber) or RPN (AP) designation. The designation applies to RPNs who are qualified to independently order diagnostic tests and prescribe medications for specific patient populations, including diabetes health, reproductive health, and sexually transmitted infections and blood borne pathogens.

RN and RPN Authorized Prescriber Project

This project is sponsored by the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM), the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba (CRPNM) and Shared Health. The project seeks to improve services to populations within Manitoba by developing and implementing strategies to advance the provincial Registered Nurse (RN) and Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) Authorized Prescriber (AP) roles. Shared Health became a partner on this project knowing there is clear alignment with the Provincial Clinical Services and Preventative Plan.

The goals of the project include:

• Supporting RNs and RPNs in Manitoba to develop and practice within the legislated scope of practice of the Authorized Prescriber (AP) role
• Providing RNs and RPNs with access to appropriate resources, including educational modules, so that they can acquire the skills required for safe, competent, and ethical prescribing practice in the context of a specific practice population
• Ensuring the appropriate supply and utilization of Authorized Prescribers (APs); and,
• Developing programs, determining funding opportunities, and creating employment opportunities for APs

A steering committee consisting of leaders representing employers, RHAs/SDOs, education, physicians, government, Indigenous health and the public provide oversight to the project. In addition to the steering committee’s work, a working group has been established. 
The working group has developed the AP Toolkit that can be found on the CRNM and CRPNM websites. Please click here to download. 

This collaboration has, ultimately, created opportunities to educate employers and other stakeholders about how RN and RPN authorized prescribers might help to meet the population need, improve access, focus on early prevention and intervention, and decrease emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

Authorized Prescriber Project Sponsors:

• Laura Panteluk RPN
  Registrar/CEO, CRPNM
  
  
• Monika Warren RN
  Chief Operations Officer Provincial Health Services/CNO, Shared Health
  
  
• Katherine Stansfield RN
  CEO/Registrar, CRNM