What PRN meds do you give a lot?

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

My floor gives an incredible amount of PRN meds. I'd never really seen some of these PRN orders in clinicals before. I'm wondering if I just missed this before, if it's because of the field I'm in, or if PRN use varies amongst facilities overall.

Obviously most specialities will see prn pain meds, tylenol, sleeping pills, and maybe some prn benadryl for itching, topical creams, or prn ativan for anxiety.

But what PRN meds do you see that are unique or unusual?

Some common ones we see are PRN orders to start IV antibiotics if the pt spikes a temp or a cx comes back positive, prn one time doses of antibiotics for a temp, prn growth factor shots for low ANCs, prn Lasix based on I&Os, prn hydralazine or lopressor, prn IV potassium, magnesium, calcium, or phosphorus, FFP for too high of an INR, prn baclofen for hiccups, and everyone has parameters for blood and platlet transfusion.

I've also seen caffiene pills and nicotine inhalers.

So what PRN orders do you see commonly where you work?

[grandee3]

A lot of Vicodin and Dilaudid, not a whole lot of Demerol. I am in the deep south, I understand most hospitals don't use Demerol anymore. We still use it in this area but it is fading fast except for the pts who claim they are allergic to Morphine and Dilaudid.

I have a question too, for those of you that have stopped using Demerol, what happens to the pts that cannot take Morphine or Dilaudid?

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

We use Demoral for rigors, but not a lot for pain.

Fentanyl, maybe?

[MaryAnn_RN]

We use an awful lot of haloperidol and ativan prn :yeah:

[purple_rose_3]

I give lots of PRN blood pressure medications and potassium. (Cardiac Floor)

[PICNICRN, BSN, RN]

fentanyl and versed are a MUST on my unit.

[Piki]

Zofran and Dilaudid or Morphine IVP (post surgical floor), percocet or vicodin PO. I have never given demerol PRN although we carry it in our narc cabinet. For those that can't take morphine or dilaudid, we give Toradol IVP or Fentanyl patches.

[RPN_2006]

Common prns on my unit...Gravol, Dilaudid, Ativan, Haldol, Tylenol.

[NurseyPoo7]

Tylenol and prn blood pressure meds.

Occassionally an MOM.

I work on a CVA unit so we often dont get any PRN Ativan or sleeping pills r/t neuro checks.

[S.N. Visit, BSN, RN]

Haldol/ Ativan, tylenol, MOM, ducusate (geri-psych floor)

[SFRN]

We use Demoral for rigors, but not a lot for pain.

Fentanyl, maybe?

Same here in the cardiac ICU

[RazorbackRN, BSN, RN]

Lots of KCL, Mag Sulfate, CaCL, Ativan, Tylenol 3, Chloral Hydrate, MOM, Simethicone, Zofran