4 Medication Safety Checks Free Online FlashCards

What should you verify when reviewing a medication order?

Compare the medication administration record (MAR) with the current authorized order. Confirm the medication, dose, route, timing or frequency, and any required parameters.

What should you do with an incomplete or apparently unsafe order?

Pause and clarify it with the prescriber or pharmacist before administration. Do not independently change the dose to resolve a concern.

What patient factors may need assessment before a medication is given?

Check relevant current findings, such as vital signs, laboratory results, alertness, swallowing ability, dose history, allergies, and ordered hold parameters. If a required assessment is missing or concerning, pause and seek guidance.

How should you verify a patient’s identity before administration?

Use at least two approved identifiers, such as the patient’s full name and date of birth, and compare them with the identification band and MAR. A room or bed number is not an identifier.

Does a successful barcode scan replace checking the patient and medication?

Barcode scanning is an added safety check, not a substitute for checking the patient and medication. Do not bypass an alert.

What should you do if a listed allergy conflicts with the medication order?

Hold the medication and clarify with the prescriber or pharmacist before giving it. Review the allergy record and ask about the suspected substance and, when possible, the reaction, severity, and timing.

How should an unclear medication allergy be handled?

An allergy may be immune-mediated, while an adverse effect or intolerance is different. Do not dismiss an unclear allergy entry or assume a related medication is safe.

What should you check when calculating a medication dose?

Match the ordered dose to the medication’s name, strength, and concentration. For calculations, carry units through each step and check that the final amount is measurable and has the correct unit.

What must be verified before using a weight-based dose?

Confirm that the weight is current and recorded in kilograms. Do not assume a computer calculation is correct if the weight input may be wrong.

How should medication doses below one and whole-number doses be written safely?

Use a leading zero for doses below one, such as $0.5\,\text{mg}$, and avoid a trailing zero, such as writing $5\,\text{mg}$ rather than $5.0\,\text{mg}$. This reduces misreading.

At what stages should medication labels be checked against the MAR and order?

Compare the label with the MAR and order at relevant stages, commonly before removing the medication from storage, before preparing it, and before returning or discarding the container.

What should you inspect on a medication product before use?

Confirm the medication, strength or concentration, dosage form, route, and expiration date. Do not use a product that is expired, damaged, contaminated, improperly stored, or not clearly identifiable.