PRN psychotropic medications: the need for nursing research

Area of Science:

• Psychiatric Nursing
• Clinical Pharmacology
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Current research inadequately supports evidence-based pro re nata (PRN) medication practices in psychiatric settings.
• There is a notable absence of national and international clinical practice guidelines and policies for PRN medication use.
• The professional, ethical, and legal implications of PRN medication underscore the need for better evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the inadequacy of existing research for PRN medication practice in psychiatry.
• To identify problems encountered by clinicians administering PRN medications in mental health settings.
• To emphasize the urgent need for an empirical research agenda to inform clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing research on PRN medication in psychiatric settings.
• Analysis of identified problems and challenges for clinicians.
• Identification of key issues requiring empirical investigation.

Main Results:

• Existing research is insufficient to establish evidence-based PRN medication practices.
• Clinicians face various problems in administering PRN medications in mental health environments.
• Significant gaps exist in clinical guidelines and policies for PRN medication use.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for robust empirical research to develop evidence-based guidelines for PRN medication.
• Addressing the identified issues is crucial for improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.
• A focused research agenda is required to support best practices in psychiatric PRN medication administration.