Staff perceptions of PRN medication in a residential care setting

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions of staff towards psychotropic Pro Re Nata (PRN) medication in a residential care setting. Design/methodology/approach: Three male and seven female participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Four themes pertaining to PRN medication emerged from the data: behaviour change, calming effect, importance of timing and perceived uniqueness. Research limitations/implications: The participant group was not homogenous and findings may have been different in a more qualified cohort. This care setting may not be representative of other environments where PRN medication is administered. The findings do, however, highlight some of the challenges facing the administration of PRN medication in mental health and care settings. Practical implications: The awareness of these themes is significant for improving staff knowledge, training practices and policies towards the use and administration of psychotropic PRN medication. Originality/value: This is the first study to engage in a thematic analysis of staff views towards the administration of PRN medication.