Guest Post: Nurse prescribing in British Columbia

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The following content was submitted by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives.

Guest Post: Nurse prescribing in British Columbia

In British Columbia, only nurses with certified practice are authorized to prescribe.

What is certified practice?

Certified practice (CP) is a term used to describe a distinct BCCNM nursing designation for RNs and RPNs. Nurses who obtain the BCCNM-certified practice designation practice can autonomously diagnose and treat clients—including prescribing—in one or more pre-determined practice areas following certified practice decision support tools (DSTs). 

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Certified practice and prescribing authority

Nurses who wish to prescribe must meet BCCNM’s conditions, including completing a prescribing course. Once granted prescribing authority, nurses with certified practice can issue prescriptions for a pharmacist to dispense a specified medication for use by a client.

Key information for pharmacists

  • Nurses prescribe only medications outlined in the decision support tools for their certified practice designation.
  • When entering these prescriptions into PharmaNet, pharmacists should enter the prescriber’s licence number and use the practitioner reference ID for the claim to adjudicate correctly.
  • Prescribing authority can be verified via BCCNM’s online directory, if needed.

 

Sep 09, 2025