BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?

Subject: BS: UK jargon what is a PRN?
From: Mr Red
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 06:10 PM

filling-in gov forms requires that you know all the jargon.
DoB is date of birth but what is a PRN?

OK I am not looking at the form, only fielding questions on the phone for Joy. But it has me stumped.

I have a side bet that the answer will come in less than an hour. Prove me right someone.

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 06:16 PM

Any of these? in Wikipedia.
My favourite is Pseudorandom Number.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Peace
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 06:20 PM

Something to do with nurses?
(Practicing Registerd Nurse?)

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 06:21 PM

I just asked the government website (http://www.direct.gov.uk/) - "You searched for PRN. No results were found."

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 06:23 PM

In medicine it's "pro re nata" -- or "as needed". As in, "Take this medicine for pain prn."

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Peace
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 06:25 PM

p.r.n.
abbr. Latin
pro re nata (as the situation demands; as needed)

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: bobad
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 06:27 PM

In the medical field PRN is used to indicate frequency, usually in the administration of medication. The Latin is Pro Re Nata and it translates to "as needed".

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: bobad
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 06:28 PM

Sorry, cross posted.

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 06:33 PM

Pretty Randy Nerd?
Powerfully Raunchy Narcissist?
Plentifully Rareified Nitrogen?
Partner Reaching Nirvana?

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 06:52 PM

I'm pretty sure I've seen the term/acronym used in contexts where it seems to be a running no or file reference. Is it one of the user fields in the document?

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Morticia
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 07:05 PM

In the UK that is how it used too, re medications, as needed.

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 08:57 PM

Righto, Sandra.

.PRN details- with regard to file extentions. Defined here:
http://filext.com/file-extension/PRN

Why I hate abbreviations. I can never remember what they mean or I pick the wrong meaning.

P. R. N. is also a professional social work company.

PRN means Press Release Network, a worldwide electronic press release service. PR Newswire also maintains an archive. Businessmen probably are most familiar with this meaning for PRN.

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 09:02 PM

In medical-pharmaceutical usage, the term should be p. r. n., not run together as 'PRN.'

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Bee
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 12:28 AM

Park Peverse Neutral.

Personal Reference Number

Privacy Report Number

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: GUEST,Mr Red - confused
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 03:05 AM

Personal reference number seems most likely - is it NI number by any other name (is name the right word?)

And as pointed it is ab abbreviation not an acronym so no it can't be a word.

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 03:48 AM

If it was for an existing employee, a Payroll Number might fit.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 04:58 AM

No Mr Red. I forget the actual words but it means an emergency medication that is administered to someone when they are having problems but aren't due for regular meds. Peace and bobad had the answer above.
It can be as simple as a headache pill or something really complicated that subdues an autistic or violent person.
We have them at work - I work in a place that was started as a home and school for 'retarded children' back in the 50s. The kids thrived and grew up and started working on the farm and in the gardens. They all were taught to knit and to play recorder and to work to the best of their ability. Some work in the weavery, some in the candle workshop, some in woodwork and in the felt studio.
Those more suited to outdoor work are on the farm or in the gardens, where organic food is grown. We have milk straight from the cows and a new cheesery was opened a couple of years back.
There is one original resident from 1957, still there in his late 50s but we also have new children, as young as 8, at the 'Home school'.
The earlier children consisted of about 50% kids with Down's syndrome and 50% with other problems including damage at birth, epilepsy or genetic damage.
The Down's were, on the whole, very trainable, friendly and happy members of the community but they are shrinking in numbers as Mums have an opportunity to abort if a blood test shows the Down's gene in their unborn child.
So the younger residents of today are more likely to have autistic spectrum disorders and their behaviour is often erratic. They can become distressed and violent without warning and these people usually have PRNs that are available for their caregivers to administer when needed.
In my little group, the oldies, only one needed PRNs and that was a pack of Panadol for when he developed a headache.
There are a few diabetics as well but their medication is usually well controlled and they don't normally need PRNs.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 05:17 AM

Personal Reference Number?

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 05:31 AM

It would be helpful if Mr. Red gave us a clue as to the type of form he's filling in. We have thousands of 'government' forms, covering a huge range of subjects.

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 05:32 AM

And no, it's not 'NI number by a different name'! They don't work like that, if they want your NI number, that's what they'll ask for. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 07:39 AM

Unfortunately I only have a vague verbal description but it does relate to care assistants for a 92 yearold living at home so the medication theory is a good candidate.

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 07:44 AM

Sorry Mr. Red, can't help you there, taxation's more my area!

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Peace
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 10:14 AM

"...taxation's more my area! "

Yeah. Seems to be lasting a long time for a temporary measure brought in in 1917 (Canada) to fund the war effort. Something's screwed up.

Hey, is the war over?

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 11:59 AM

Without seeing a copy of the relevant part of the form, any answer is a guess.

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: GUEST,Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 02:27 PM

p.r.n. meaning "as needed" is not only a British term. It is used by American medical professionals, too, but probably not known to many laymen. It's commonly used on written prescriptions, but pharmacists would translate it into plain language when they make up the label for a bottle of medication to be dispensed to the consumer.

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: GUEST,Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 02:30 PM

HOWEVER, p.r.n. meaning "as needed" is probably irrelevant to the original question.

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 02:35 PM

"Yeah. Seems to be lasting a long time for a temporary measure brought in in 1917 (Canada) to fund the war effort. Something's screwed up."

Peace, I'm on the side that helps people avoid tax - I'm an accountant (by day, and a folkie by night!)! Hope that makes me a good guy!

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: folk1e
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 08:58 PM

PRN ..... Personal Relationship Number

or in normal speak your job number, or file number.

or we could be wrong....... then again if the form only has a space for a number not a list of meds....... your guess!

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: sapper82
Date: 07 Mar 08 - 04:08 AM

From other½; Please Rite Now??

Subject: RE: BS: UK jargon whats a PRN?
From: danensis
Date: 07 Mar 08 - 02:58 PM

PRN is one of the things I associate with PTP and PTR.

There again machine code was so simple.