Poland Ministry of Health proposes expanded nursing powers for wound care

The Polish Ministry of Health has published a draft regulation aimed at expanding the professional competencies of nurses regarding wound treatment. Under the proposed changes, nurses working in outpatient specialist care would be authorized to independently prescribe and administer lidocaine hydrochloride in the form of an injectable solution for local anesthesia.

Currently, only midwives are permitted to use this anesthetic independently; nurses require a physician's order to administer it. The new regulations would allow nurses to both order the medication and issue prescriptions specifically for wound care, such as during the cleaning and preparation of wounds.

The Ministry stated that the goal is to improve patient access to healthcare services by reducing the necessity of a physician's visit before certain procedures can be performed. Additionally, the move is intended to enhance the professional status of nurses by recognizing their education and experience. The draft is subject to a 30-day public consultation period, and the regulations are expected to take effect 14 days after their official announcement.