What Does PRN Mean in Nursing?
The medical world can be quite confusing for the average person. With a plethora of terms and acronyms, it’s difficult to make complete sense of it all. For nurses, it’s important to not only know the language of the medical community, but also be able to apply it in the best way possible. One of the acronyms commonly used in nursing is PRN, but what does it mean and what is its importance?
What Does PRN Mean?
PRN stands for pro re nata, which is Latin for “as needed”. In the nursing context, it means that certain medications are to be prescribed and administered on an as needed basis. This could be when a patient is in pain and needs extra pain relief, or it could be if a patient has a spike in their blood pressure and needs an additional dose of blood pressure medicine. The PRN distinction tells nurses that the medicine is to be given only as needed and only when it’s determined to be medically necessary.
The Benefits of PRN
There are many benefits to PRN drugs. The primary benefit is that it allows nurses to be able to better control the medication of the patient. For example, if the patient needs the medication to treat a spike in their blood pressure, the nurse can administer the drug only when it’s indicated and not before or after. This helps prevent the patient from becoming reliant on the medication unnecessarily, which can reduce potential side effects as well as decrease costs.
Another benefit is that PRN medications can provide more tailored treatment options. Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, nurses can determine exactly when and how much of a medication needs to be given to the patient in order to effectively treat their condition. This ensures that the patient is getting the most benefit and the best quality of care.
Finally, the use of PRN medications can help nurses save time. Since the drugs are given only when necessary, there is no need to constantly check in with the patient or give updates on their condition. This can help nurses save time and resources, as well as free them up to attend to other medical needs.
PRN in Practice
For nurses, understanding when and how to use PRN drugs is essential. It’s important to always follow the established protocols and steps for administering PRN drugs. This includes obtaining proper patient identification, documenting patient intake and any behaviors or actions, monitoring changes in the patient’s condition, and then administering the medication as needed. Following these steps helps ensure that the medicine is being given only when necessary and allows for better documentation and communication.
Conclusion
PRN stands for pro re nata and is used in nursing to refer to medications given on an as-needed basis. This distinction tells nurses that the medicine is to be given only as needed and only when it’s determined to be medically necessary. PRN medications can provide more tailored treatment options, and the use of PRN medications can help nurses save time. For nurses, understanding when and how to use PRN drugs is essential and it’s important to always follow the established protocols and steps for administering PRN drugs.