A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Using the rights of medication administration. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to ensure the right medication is administered to the client?
A.
Ask another nurse to check the medication dosage prior to administration.
B.
Verify a written order with the medication administration record.
C.
Use two client identifiers prior to administering the medication.
D.
Document the full name of the prescribed medication after administration.
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B. Verify a written order with the medication administration record.
Explanation:
Ensuring the right medication is administered is a fundamental aspect of safe nursing practice and is one of the “rights” of medication administration. This involves verifying several critical details to avoid medication errors.
Verify a Written Order with the Medication Administration Record (MAR): Before administering medication, a nurse must first verify the medication order against the Medication Administration Record (MAR). This ensures that the medication being administered matches what has been prescribed by the healthcare provider. This step is crucial because it confirms that the medication, dosage, route, and time are correct according to the physician’s order. It is a proactive measure to catch any discrepancies between what is ordered and what is intended to be given, thereby preventing potential errors.
Other Actions:
- Ask Another Nurse to Check the Medication Dosage Prior to Administration (A): While having another nurse double-check the medication dosage is a good practice for ensuring accuracy, it does not address the verification of the medication itself. This action is typically part of a broader error-prevention strategy but does not alone ensure the correct medication is given according to the written order.
- Use Two Client Identifiers Prior to Administering the Medication (C): This step is essential for ensuring that the medication is administered to the correct patient. However, this step does not verify whether the medication itself is correct—it only ensures that the right patient receives the medication.
- Document the Full Name of the Prescribed Medication After Administration (D): Documentation after administration is important for legal and clinical records but does not help in verifying the correct medication prior to giving it. Proper documentation ensures that the medication given is recorded but does not prevent errors from occurring during the administration process.
In summary, verifying the medication order with the MAR ensures that all aspects of the medication administration are correct before it is given to the client, making it the most direct and effective method to confirm the right medication is administered.