PRNOR“ASNEEDED”MEDICATIONS
Somemedicationscomewithspecificinstructionsforeverydayuse,suchas“Take1tabletbymouthevery8hours.” However,othermedicationsareonlyusedwhenneededforaspecificsituation,suchasacommoncold,allergies,constipation,orpain.Someofthesemedicinesareprescribedforyou byyourphysicianwhileotherscanbepurchasedatyourlocalpharmacy.
Medicinesthataretaken“asneeded”areknownas“PRN”medicines.“PRN”isaLatintermthatstandsfor “prorenata,’whichmeans“asthethingisneeded.”
Ifa studentis prescribeda medicineto take“only asneeded” the doctororder/pharmacylabelshouldprovideyouwithclearinstructionsabouthowandwhentogiveit.Theseinstructionsshouldincludethefollowinginformation:
•Howmuchmedicinethe studentcantake inaset periodoftime.
•When totakePRNmedication.
•WhentotakeascheduledandPRNmedicationsforasinglehealthproblemifapplicable.
(Retrievedandadaptedfrom:
1.HaveparentcompleteandsigntheConsentforGivingPrescriptionandNon-Prescription Medication at School form.
2.Approvedoverthecounterschoolmedicationscanonly giveiftheparent/guardianhas signedtheyellowhealth officeemergencycard.
3.Checkwithparentastowhenlastdosewastakenfirst,ifthereisanydoubt.
4.Followinstructions,beingcarefulnottoexceedrecommendeddosageofmedicationortimeintervalindicatedon label.
5.Recordtimethedosewasgivenindateboxwithinitial.
6.CompleteMedicationLogforeachPRNmedication.
7.OrdersforEpipensshouldbetreatedasPRNmedicationwithaMedication/TreatmentLog.Instructionsforuse arelocatedonthepen.UseAnaphylaxiscareplan.
8.No,administratingof PRNmedicationsduring FirstandLast hourof schoolwithoutparentpermission.
9.Notifytheprincipalandparent/guardianifthereisfrequentPRNmedicationusageor concern.