Is "Ambien 5 mg po PRN" considered a complete PRN medication order?

Is "Ambien 5 mg po PRN" considered a complete PRN medication order?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It is incomplete without dosage information
• D. It requires specific administration times

Answer: (B)

A PRN (as needed) medication order must contain specific instructions for when and how the medication should be administered. The order for "Ambien 5 mg po PRN" indicates the medication name (Ambien), the dosage (5 mg), the route of administration (by mouth), and that it is taken as needed. However, it lacks critical information regarding the specific conditions or situations in which the medication should be taken, such as indications for usage (e.g., only when the patient is experiencing insomnia) or frequency limitations (e.g., not exceeding a certain number of doses within a specified time period). This is essential to ensure safe medication use and to prevent overmedication. Therefore, although it contains some of the necessary elements for a PRN order, the absence of these specific indications makes it incomplete. Thus, the claim that it is a complete PRN medication order is not accurate.

A PRN (as needed) medication order must contain specific instructions for when and how the medication should be administered. The order for "Ambien 5 mg po PRN" indicates the medication name (Ambien), the dosage (5 mg), the route of administration (by mouth), and that it is taken as needed. However, it lacks critical information regarding the specific conditions or situations in which the medication should be taken, such as indications for usage (e.g., only when the patient is experiencing insomnia) or frequency limitations (e.g., not exceeding a certain number of doses within a specified time period). This is essential to ensure safe medication use and to prevent overmedication.

Therefore, although it contains some of the necessary elements for a PRN order, the absence of these specific indications makes it incomplete. Thus, the claim that it is a complete PRN medication order is not accurate.