2 Medication Rights in Nursing Practice Free Online FlashCards

What are the five familiar medication rights?

The familiar five rights are the right patient, medication, dose, route, and time.

How should a nurse verify the right patient?

Use the identifiers required by policy, commonly two, and match them with the medication administration record. A room number is not an identifier.

How can a nurse check the medication and its indication?

Compare the order, MAR, and medication label, and confirm the drug has a clear clinical purpose for this patient.

What should a nurse do with an unclear medication order?

Stop and clarify incomplete, illegible, or unexpected orders; do not guess.

What should be checked when verifying a medication dose?

Check the ordered dose, concentration, dosage form, and any calculation. Consider relevant factors such as age, weight, allergies, condition, and laboratory results.

What must be verified about medication route and form?

Verify both the route and dosage form against the order and the patient’s condition. Check product-specific instructions before crushing a tablet.

What does checking the right time involve?

Check the scheduled or PRN timing, the last dose, and any required interval or administration instructions.

How should a nurse respond to a barcode mismatch or alert?

Investigate a scan or alert that does not match; do not bypass it. Technology supports verification but cannot replace it.

What should a nurse reassess before administering a medication?

Reassess medication-specific parameters, such as blood pressure before an antihypertensive or sedation and respiratory status before an opioid.

What should happen if a required safety parameter is outside the order’s limits?

If an assessment suggests the medication may be unsafe or a required parameter is outside the order’s limits, hold the dose as appropriate and contact the prescriber or pharmacist according to policy.

How should a nurse involve a patient in medication administration?

Explain the medication and its purpose in understandable terms, invite questions, and respect an informed refusal. Do not conceal or force medication.

When should a nurse document an administered medication?

Document after the medication has actually been given, recording the medication, dose, time, route, and other required details.