Portuguese government authorizes nurses to monitor low risk pregnancies
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The Portuguese government approved a pilot project that allows specialist nurses to provide prenatal care for low risk pregnancies within primary healthcare units.
The new regulations let maternal and obstetric health nurses follow clinical protocols and request diagnostic tests or screenings. These specialists can also perform preventive interventions, such as administering vaccinations and supplements.
The government says the move addresses a shortage of general and family medicine specialists and aims to ensure patients receive timely prenatal care while optimizing available resources. The Sindicato dos Enfermeiros, a nurses' union, described the move as a historic milestone for the profession. Union president Luís Silva stated the change is a matter of professional justice, following previous requests for nurses to have prescribing authority in other nursing specialties.
The pilot project will run for 12 months before an evaluation determines its future. The union noted that similar collaborative models have already been successfully implemented in other European countries.
