Overview

HospiceWorks makes PRN documentation simple inside the Nursing Visit Note (NVN) and ensures that PRN decisions are preserved in the MAR (Medication Administration Record) for accurate medication history and easier chart review.

Key point: PRN documentation flows into the MAR automatically once the Nurse Visit Note is signed, creating a complete PRN history for both Administered and Not Administered outcomes.

Where you’ll use this feature

1) Nursing Visit Note (NVN)

In the NVN, expand Medication Management Section to access the Current Medication List.
PRN medications display PRN Administered with Yes / No buttons.

You may also see a checkbox at the top of the NVN:

  • “This is a PRN visit” (use when the visit itself is PRN/unscheduled, per your agency workflow)

2) MAR (Medication Administration Record)

The MAR is the running medication administration history for the patient. After the NVN is signed, PRN documentation flows to the MAR and builds the full record of PRN activity over time.

3) Patient Dashboard → Medications (PRN History)

A PRN History view summarizes PRN activity across visits, including both Administered and Not Administered entries.

Documenting PRNs in the Nursing Visit Note (NVN)

Step 1 — Open Medication Management

Open the patient’s Nursing Visit Note and expand Medication Management Section.

Step 2 — Locate the PRN medication

In the Current Medication List, find the PRN medication you addressed during the visit.

Step 3 — Select “PRN Administered”

Choose one:

  • Yes = PRN was administered during this visit

  • No = PRN was not administered during this visit (a reason is required)

If PRN Administered = NO (Not Given)

When you select No, a required dropdown appears:

Required field: Reason PRN Was Not Administered

Select the most accurate reason from the dropdown.
Example: “Patient not experiencing targeted symptoms.”

Best practice: If the reason is “Other,” add a short clarifying note so the clinical rationale is clear during review.

If PRN Administered = YES (Given) — Complete Documentation

When you select Yes, you must document the PRN administration details for that medication during the visit.

What to document when PRN is administered

HospiceWorks will capture the full PRN administration record, typically including:

  • Date/Time Given (when the medication was administered)

  • Reason / Indication (why it was given)

  • Dose Given (what was actually administered)

  • Route (how it was administered)

  • Effectiveness / Response (what changed after administration)

  • Notes (optional clinical context)

  • Adverse effects (if any were observed)

Best practice (Effectiveness): Include a short, clinically clear response statement whenever possible, for example:

  • “Anxiety improved within 20 minutes; patient resting comfortably.”

  • “Pain decreased from 7/10 to 3/10 within 30 minutes.”

PRN Flow to the MAR (Medication Administration Record)

When does PRN flow to the MAR?

PRN documentation flows into the MAR automatically once the Nurse Visit Note is signed.

This means:

  • You document PRNs during the visit in the NVN

  • Once the NVN is signed, HospiceWorks posts the PRN entry to the MAR

  • The MAR becomes the complete, ongoing history of PRN activity

What appears in the MAR?

After signing the NVN, the MAR will include PRN history for:

Administered

  • The PRN administration entry (with the documented details such as date/time, reason, dose, route, response, and notes)

Not Administered

  • A “Not Administered” entry with the selected reason (and any notes, if applicable)

PRN History visibility (Patient Dashboard)

In Patient Dashboard → Medications, clinicians can review PRN history across visits.
This view typically includes:

  • Medication name

  • Date/time

  • Status (Administered vs Not Administered)

  • Indication/reason

  • Effectiveness/response (when administered)

  • Documented by

Note on editing: PRN history is typically view-only for most clinicians; editing is limited based on user permissions.

Documentation tips for clean PRN charting

  • If PRN is not given, always select a reason (required).

  • If PRN is given, document effectiveness briefly—this supports symptom management and clinical justification.

  • Keep PRN documentation aligned with the rest of the visit (symptoms, pain, assessments).

Quick FAQs

1) When does PRN documentation show up in the MAR?
PRN documentation flows into the MAR automatically once the Nurse Visit Note is signed.

2) Does the MAR include PRNs that were NOT given?
Yes. The MAR shows a complete history of Administered and Not Administered PRN entries, including the reason when not administered.

3) Do I have to enter PRN information again in the MAR?
No. Document PRNs in the NVN. After the NVN is signed, HospiceWorks automatically creates the MAR entries.

4) What’s required if the PRN was not administered?
You must select Reason PRN Was Not Administered (required dropdown).

5) What should I document when PRN is administered?
At minimum: date/time, reason/indication, dose/route (as applicable), and effectiveness/response. Notes and adverse effects should be included when relevant.

6) What does “This is a PRN visit” mean?
It identifies the visit type as PRN/unscheduled. It is separate from whether a PRN medication was administered.