How to Record PRNs and PRN Outcomes

A resident's active PRNs can be administered from two locations in ALIS: the Administer PRNs page and the Pass Meds page.

Administer PRNs Page

When not recording a PRN administration from the Pass Meds page, you can always do so from the Dashboard. Find the Administer PRNs icon in the Meds section.

1. Click the Administer PRNs icon. The number notification badge shown on the icon indicates the total outstanding PRN outcomes not logged.
2. On the Administer PRNs page, type a resident's name in the "Choose one or more residents to administer PRNs" field. Click the name of the person for whom you need to document PRNs. Then, click the Administer PRNs button. This brings you to the Administer PRNs page for the specific resident selected. This page shows you all active PRN orders, and any Outstanding PRN outcomes for this resident will display above the available PRNs. 
   
3. Click the Administer PRN button.
   • Verify the date and time you gave the PRN. Update this to match the time the resident took the medication.
   • Type the purpose for giving the medication.
   • Record any other required fields such as pain level, injection site, or patch location.
   • If you already know the outcome of giving the medication, you can enter it in the Outcome field. Usually, you will be required to wait for a specified time period before recording the outcome. However, if the medication is particularly fast-acting, it may be required to enter the outcome upon administration.
   • Click the Record PRN button.
   • You will now see a record of the PRN administration under "Recent PRN History" toward the bottom of the page. This section shows PRNs administered in the last 72 hours. 

PRNs on the Pass Meds Page

If you are already recording routine medications for a resident in the Pass Meds page, you can easily view and record PRNs from that same location.

1.  On the Pass Meds page for a resident, click the PRNs tab. 
2. Follow all of the same steps as described above in steps 2 and 3. 

PRN Outcomes

Most PRNs will have outcome documentation requirements. These requirements are set on a per-medication basis when the order is processed.

You always have the option to enter the outcome if you already know the effect of giving a PRN. Most likely, you will need to document the administration of the PRN shortly after giving it, and then document the outcome an hour or more later. 

The pending outcomes to be logged will show very obviously in the Pass Meds page and on the Administer PRNs icon on your ALIS home screen. On Pass Meds, outstanding PRN outcomes display as an exclamation symbol with an alert above the total number of outstanding routine medications.

When you Pass Meds for a resident, the same exclamation symbol displays on the PRNs tab to remind you to document the outcomes.

Type the outcome and click the Record Outcome button to remove the alert. This recorded outcome will be visible in the PRN Administration report found in the Medication section of Reports. 

Related Articles:

• Pass Meds Reference Guide
• Video: Pass Meds and PRNs
• How do I edit a PRN that has been administered in ALIS?

For more assistance with PRN Administration, 

Contact our ALIS Customer Success Team:

888.404.ALIS (2547) or support@go-alis.com