Strategies to Support Nursing Practice When Implementing and Using Range Orders.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice
• Pharmacology
• Patient Safety

Background:

• The American Society for Pain Management Nursing advocates for PRN range orders as a safe medication practice.
• Major regulatory agencies and state boards of nursing do not prohibit the use of PRN range orders.
• Misinformation has led to reluctance in adopting PRN range orders, impacting patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide factual information and guidance on implementing and utilizing PRN range orders for analgesic administration.
• To optimize patient safety through the effective use of PRN range orders.
• To address misinformation influencing organizational policies on PRN range orders.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical published information, current guidelines, and professional positions.
• Discussion of salient considerations and guiding principles for PRN range order implementation.
• Presentation of implementation suggestions and practical examples.

Main Results:

• PRN range orders are a supported and viable method for medication administration.
• Guidelines and principles exist for safe and effective implementation.
• Examples illustrate practical application in patient care.

Conclusions:

• Nurses have an ethical and professional duty to ensure safe and effective pain management.
• PRN range orders empower nurses to provide individualized analgesia, optimizing patient care and preventing harm.
• The use of PRN range orders is crucial for safe, individualized pain management in nursing practice.