What does the medical Term PRN mean?

Question

My mother has parkinsons disease, I am told that PRN means she can't have her pain medication unless she ask for it? Yet she can't ask for it because she no longer has the ability to do so? Another person tells me that it doesn't mean that at all, so can someone help me out? Thanks

Answer 1

PRN means 'per diem' the latin word for 'as needed'. In other words the medication is not given on a scheduled basis or at certain times. Medication of this sort is usually pain medication and patients 'ask' for it. Talk to her provider who is prescribing this medication to see if they will write it on a scheduled basis. There are some nurses that are very experienced and astute and able to make the individual decision to look for signs of pain in patients who are unable to request medication, and give the medication and watch for signs on effectiveness. And then there are the inexperienced ones or the ones who just don't think for themselves and intrepret 'PRN' exclusively as 'patients ask' for it. Voice your concerns to her provder, or the nurse manager of the unit. I would encourage you to also speak to the nurse who is caring for her when you are there.....but I recognize that with staffing being as bad as it usually is..she may have a different nurse all the time. So where you may get through to one nurse, the one coming in may not get the message. Speaking to the nurse manager may help.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Prn Medical

Answer 4

PRN is a Latin abbreviation which means "Pro Re Nata", translated in English as "as needed".

Example, analgesics like acetaminophen for headache. Normally, it is supposed to be taken every 6 hours, but when the headache disappears, you stop taking it. That is what PRN is all about. You only use it when the situation arises.

Ask your doctor is that Parkinson's drug is for the uncontrolled muscle shaking or others. Then you may have an idea when to give it without your mother asking. Let's say she's shaking so hard and that drug is for that, then give it. If she is otherwise not shaking, don't give it.

Hope that helps somewhat.

Answer 5

Pro re nata, a medical term for "As the situation arises

Answer 6

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RE:
What does the medical Term PRN mean?
My mother has parkinsons disease, I am told that PRN means she can't have her pain medication unless she ask for it? Yet she can't ask for it because she no longer has the ability to do so? Another person tells me that it doesn't mean that at all, so can someone help me out? Thanks

Answer 7

Main Entry: prn
Function: abbreviation
Etymology: Latin = pro re nata
as needed; as the circumstances require

Answer 8

PRN mean "as needed" but it should be associated with a frequency like "every 4 hours as needed". This means she can take it up to every 4 hours but not to take it if she isn't having any pain.

Answer 9

It is generally used as the acronym PRN in medicine to refer to dosage of prescribed medication that is not scheduled; instead administration is left to the caregiver or the patient's prerogative. So if you are the caretaker then you can ask for it for her.

Answer 10

As Needed (pro re nata). (also p.r.n.), Patterns Of Requesting As-Needed