Orders for PRN pain medications must specify the level of pain for which they are to be given.
PRN orders will require selecting | For example |
Pain - Mild | Tylenol 650mg q6h prn – Pain Mild |
Pain - Moderate | Lortab 2mg q6h prn – Pain Moderate |
Pain - Severe | Morphine 4mg q6h prn – Pain |
Pain – Other:________ |
If a PRN pain medication is ordered for a pain score for which an order already exists you will receive a pop-up alert:
You may
1. Discontinue the other medication first if no longer needed
2. Modify order - give specific direction how and when to give
For example,
Alternating 2 drugs for the same score
Tylenol 10mk/kg q6h prn - mild pain (alternate with ibuprofen)
Ibuprofen 4mg/kg q6h prn - mild pain (alternate with Tylenol)
Lortab .02 mg/kg q6h prn - moderate pain
If only one medication is required for all pain, you may select the same med for each level of pain
Note: Additional PRN orders will result in duplicate orders; you may select Other with clear directions
Tylenol 650mg q6h prn – Pain Mild
Tylenol 650mg q6h prn – Pain Moderate
Tylenol 650mg q6h prn – Pain Severe
Tramadol 50mg q6h prn - Other: for breakthrough pain unresponsive to Tylenol
Any duplicate orders, need for additional orders (patient pain level not addressed with a current order) or ambiguity about the orders will prompt the nurses to call the ordering provider for clarification.