Common question · Home nursing
Do you need a prescription for a home nurse?
Read: 5 minUpdated: 2026-07-02
Quick answer
A medical prescription is required for prescribed acts: injections, IV drips, complex dressings, blood tests or medication administration. Comfort care and personal assistance, however, do not require one. In Rabat, SAMU Rabat guides you based on the care requested, 24/7.
Care that requires a prescription
The rule is simple: any delegated medical act requires a prescription signed by a doctor. This covers injections (intramuscular, subcutaneous, insulin), IV drips, the placement and monitoring of catheters, complex and post-operative dressings, blood tests and samples, and medication administration by protocol. The prescription protects the patient: it states the product, dose, frequency and duration. Without it, the nurse cannot legally perform these technical acts. Always keep the prescription and medication boxes handy for the visit.
Care that does not require a prescription
Not every need requires a prescription. Washing and hygiene, help getting up and to bed, monitoring an elderly person, patient-sitting, companionship and health-education advice can be arranged without a prescription. These are comfort and support services, in high demand among Rabat families caring for a dependent relative. You can therefore request a nurse or care assistant for these services directly, simply describing the need when you call.
How to organise care in Rabat
The process is smooth. You call SAMU Rabat, describe the care needed, and we immediately tell you whether a prescription is required. If so, prepare it — from your treating doctor or a hospital discharge. We then schedule a visit from a state-certified nurse at home, at a time that suits you, with the necessary sterile equipment. For regular treatment (daily injections, dressings over several days), we set up a visit schedule to ensure continuity of care.
Good to know before the first visit
A few habits make the first visit easier. Gather the current prescription, the health record or hospital discharge report, the list of treatments and any test results. Flag any known allergies and the referring doctor. This lets the nurse deliver safe care that complies with the prescription. For a blood test, a prescription is also required, and some tests require fasting: we will confirm this when booking.
Related questions
Yes. As in a laboratory, a home blood test requires a medical prescription stating the tests requested. Some tests require fasting; we will confirm this when booking.