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Pro re nata is a Latin phrase meaning "in the circumstances" or "as the circumstance arises" (literally "for the thing born"). [1][2] In medical terminology, it is often abbreviated PRN or P.R.N. and refers to the administration of prescribed medication as the situation calls for it.
The main discussion of these abbreviations in the context of drug prescriptions and other medical prescriptions is at List of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions. Some of these abbreviations are best not used, as marked and explained here.
List of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions. This is a list of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions, including hospital orders (the patient-directed part of which is referred to as sig codes). This list does not include abbreviations for pharmaceuticals or drug name suffixes such as CD, CR, ER, XT (See Time release technology ...
Pronunciation follows convention outside the medical field, in which acronyms are generally pronounced as if they were a word (JAMA, SIDS), initialisms are generally pronounced as individual letters (DNA, SSRI), and abbreviations generally use the expansion (soln. = "solution", sup. = "superior").
prn PRN: as necessary (from Latin pro re nata) (if used in chronic pain control, sometimes disparagingly termed "pain relief nil") as needed Prog: prognosis PROM: prelabor rupture of membranes partial range of motion [1] PRP: panretinal photocoagulation platelet-rich plasma progressive rubella panencephalitis: PRRE: purine-rich response element PRV
PRN pro re nata "for the thing born" As used in standard medical jargon, PRN is understood to mean "as needed". This reading of the abbreviation implies that the delivery of the prescription (by a suitable person, following a medications protocol) is done in a reactive, passive way, e.g., "when that happens, do this".
Abbreviation Term Description (notes) A.d. As directed bd/bid Twice a day gt One drop gtt drops GSL General sales list Gutt/g Guttae (drops) Meds Medications Nocte/QHS At night Occ Ointment od/QD Once a day otc Over the counter (bought medication) P Pharmacy (drug) POM Prescription-only medicine prn When required q
Abbreviation Meaning q: each, every (from Latin quaque) q15: every 15 minutes q6h q6° once every 6 hours q2wk: once every 2 weeks qAc Before every meal (from Latin quaque ante cibum) q.a.d. every other day (from Latin quaque altera die) QALY: quality-adjusted life year: q.AM: every day before noon (from Latin quaque die ante meridiem) q.d.