Chances are that some of you may not have known that in addition to the well-known 5 right of medication administration, some experts have added 3 more to the list. When it comes to patient safety, it’s never a bad time to review some of the basics and increase your awareness of newer recommendations.

Please add any of your own tips and medication safety advice by leaving a comment. Thank you!

 

Rights of Medication Administration

1. Right patient

• Check the name on the order and the patient.
• Use 2 identifiers.
• Ask patient to identify himself/herself.
• When available, use technology (for example, bar-code system).

2. Right medication

• Check the medication label.
• Check the order.

3. Right dose

• Check the order.
• Confirm appropriateness of the dose using a current drug reference.
• If necessary, calculate the dose and have another nurse calculate the dose as well.

4. Right route

• Again, check the order and appropriateness of the route ordered.
• Confirm that the patient can take or receive the medication by the ordered route.

5. Right time

• Check the frequency of the ordered medication.
• Double-check that you are giving the ordered dose at the correct time.
• Confirm when the last dose was given.

6. Right documentation

• Document administration AFTER giving the ordered medication.
• Chart the time, route, and any other specific information as necessary. For example, the site of an injection or any laboratory value or vital sign that needed to be checked before giving the drug.

7. Right reason

• Confirm the rationale for the ordered medication.  What is the patient’s history? Why is he/she taking this medication?
• Revisit the reasons for long-term medication use.

8. Right response

• Make sure that the drug led to the desired effect.  If an antihypertensive was given, has his/her blood pressure improved? Does the patient verbalize improvement in depression while on an antidepressant?
• Be sure to document your monitoring of the patient  and any other nursing interventions that are applicable.

Safe medication administration and reducing medication errors should be a goal of everyone involved in healthcare. The rights of medication administration help ensure patient safety and consistency in nursing practice.

Rights of Medication Administration Reference

Nursing2012 Drug Handbook. (2012). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

 

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