Pro re nata (PRN) medication are frequently used drugs administered by nurses as commonly in
response to a patient’s symptoms or behaviour. Pro re nata (PRN) medication continues to be a
commonly used treatment modality in hospitals. The administration of PRN medication in mental
health settings is a common occurrence, with reviews suggesting that between 70-90% of in patient
service-users receive PRN psychotrophic medication. The administration of PRN medication
varies significantly between mental health settings making it difficult to establish whether its use
has increased or decreased. There is insufficient data on pro re nata medication administration
medication among nurses in Rivers State. Hence the study is aimed to investigate Pro re nata (PRN)
medication prescription and administration among nurses in Rivers State University Teaching
Hospital. Data for this descriptive cross-sectional survey was obtained using a researcherstructured
questionnaire. Multi-stage and proportionate sampling method were used to obtain
sample size. A descriptive method of analysis was used to analyze responses from respondents.
Findings from the study shows that the rate of PRN medication administration among respondents
is (76.02%). In conclusion, a need for service improvement should be identified including the use
of alternative strategies to improve Pro re nata medication such processes as de-esclation technique
and education around psychopharmacology.