Province’s first nurse with prescribing powers is on Manitoulin

The first registered nurse (RN) in Ontario allowed to prescribe medications is Cyril Lee Turley, who just happens to works at the family health centre on Manitoulin Island.

The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) said it and the province are marking a significant milestone in health care as they begin to authorize RNs to prescribe medication in Ontario. 

In a news release issued Feb. 28, the college confirmed Turley is the first registered nurse in Ontario to receive official credentials after regulations were approved late last year by the Ministry of Health and the CNO. 

"Under regulations approved by the government in Nov. 2023, RNs in the General Class who meet specific requirements gained the authority to prescribe certain medications and communicate diagnoses for the purposes of prescribing those medications," said a news release from CNO.

“RN prescribing represents a forward leap in nursing practice, empowering RNs with the knowledge, skill and judgment to assess, diagnose and treat defined non-complex conditions,” said Silvie Crawford, CNO’s Executive Director and CEO. 

Judy Miller, executive director at the Northeastern Manitoulin Family Health team said she was so pleased to see Turley as the first RN in the province to complete the training. 

She said it would make a big difference for both patients and the medical care givers in terms of turnaround times once an appointment has been booked.  

“This is going to save a lot of wait time on everyone’s part,” said Miller. 

She said many patients on the Island find that visiting one of the family health centre venues can be quicker for non-urgent issues than trying to book an appointment with a family doctor.

She said she was pleased to reveal that other RNs who work for the Northeastern Manitoulin Family Health Team are also in the process of completing their training. The best part, said Miller, is that the tuition cost is currently free, but she added that is expected to change in April.

To qualify for prescribing authority, RNs must meet specific requirements and complete CNO-approved education. Georgian College, one of the schools offering an approved RN prescribing program, is currently seeing RNs graduate from their program. Turley completed his RN prescription training at Georgian.

Turley completed Georgian’s online course to earn the ability to prescribe. In a news release issued by the college, Turley spoke about earning the designation.

“It’s really rewarding to be able to prescribe and save our patients some time. Why not expand so our patients have easier access to vaccines and certain medications that they need in a timely way?” he said, adding to be the first person with the credential is “exciting and pioneering.”

Georgian launched the self-directed course — Registered Nurse Prescribing Education: Safe and Ethical Practice — in January. Georgian is one of four Ontario post-secondary institutions authorized by College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) to provide this education.

Turley was also congratulated by Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones.

“Our government has been taking bold action to ensure more Ontarians can conveniently connect to the care they need, closer to home,” said Jones in the news release. 

“I’m delighted to see our innovative changes coming to life by congratulating Lee Turley as the first Registered Nurse in Ontario authorized to prescribe medication, which will mean faster and easier access to care for families.” 

The moment was also celebrated on the Facebook page for the Ontario Ministry of Health.

Registered nurses must meet a few requirements to enter the program:

• Be a registered nurse in good standing with the CNO.
• Be employed in a health-care setting where RN prescribing is sanctioned by employer.
• Have evidence of a secured placement and supervising prescriber within current workplace.

“RN prescribing represents a forward leap in nursing practice, empowering RNs with the knowledge, skill and judgment to assess, diagnose and treat defined non-complex conditions,” said Silvie Crawford, executive director and CEO, CNO. “CNO-approved prescribing education programs like the one offered by Georgian College ensures that RNs obtain the competencies necessary to prescribe safely and competently.”

Cambrian College is also accepting students for its RN Prescribing program, which begins in May 2024. It is delivered online and part-time. The program lasts six semesters. It’s not available for international students.