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Nursing vocabulary · Medication Administration

PRN

Meaning in nursing, with examples

/ˌpiː ɑːr ˈɛn/abbreviationCore term

In nursing, PRN means: Written on a prescription to show that a medicine is given only when needed, for example for pain or nausea, not at fixed times. It comes from Latin 'pro re nata'.

In Turkish: lüzumu halinde (L.H.), gerektiğinde, ihtiyaç halinde

How it is used

Used like an adjective or adverb: 'PRN medication', 'paracetamol PRN', 'Is she written up for any PRN pain relief?' A PRN prescription normally states the reason, dose, minimum interval and maximum in 24 hours. Nurses record why each PRN dose was given and whether it worked.

Example sentences

  1. She's asking for something for nausea. Has she got anything PRN?

  2. I gave him his PRN morphine at 14:00 and his pain score went from 7 to 3.

Common collocations

  • PRN medication
  • give a PRN dose
  • PRN pain relief
  • written up PRN
  • pain scoreA number that shows how strong a patient's pain is, most often on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst pain imaginable).
  • medication chartThe form or electronic record where a patient's medicines are prescribed and where nurses sign for each dose they give or do not give.
  • doseThe amount of a medicine given at one time, such as 500 mg, or the total amount given over a period.
  • statImmediately; written on a prescription or said by staff when a medicine, test or action is needed at once. It comes from Latin 'statim'.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Medication Administration

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.