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