Question

List the six rights of medication administration with a brief description of each. Also, what do you think are other important aspects of medication administration?

Answer 1

The six rights of medication administration

1. The right patient; Make sure that the medication is administered to the right patient. For that , ask the patient to verbalize his/her name including family name if possible. otherwise, check the identification band of the patient and check electronic data. Always use two identification methods to confirm the patient. cross check with the prescriber order.

2. The right drug; Make sure that the right medication is administered to the right patient. heck the label of the medication and cross check with the order sheet. Do not administer if the label is not visible or prepared by someone else.

3. The right dose; Prior to administration of the drug, check the medication order sheet for correct dose of drug. If necessary, calculate the dosage of the drug and let other nurse to recheck the finding and confirm.

4. The right route; Make sure that the route of administration of the medication is cross checked with the order before administration. Check the label of the medication also for confirmation because some medication have particular route of administration.

5. The right time; Make sure the time of administration is appropriate, check the medication sheet and confirm the frequency of administration and the time of last dose administered.

6. The right documentation; documentation is important in every procedure. Make sure to document the medication administration procedure by including the patient name, name of medication, dose administered, route of administration and the time of administration and any adverse effect developed after administration.

Other important aspects of medication administration

• History and assessment

Proper history collection and assessment of the patient is an important part prior to medication assessment. History of any drug allergies, assessment of route of administration(IV line petancy, signs of phlebitis, bleeding tendency) will reduce harm to the patient.

• Evaluation

Proper evaluation of action of the drug, drug interaction with other medications which is already ongoing medications for the patient, ant contraindications for the patient and possible side effect and adverse effect of drug should be evaluated prior to administration.

• Health education

Nurse should provide health education regarding the name of drug, route, frequency, indication, side effect prior to administration and clarify the concerns of the patient.

• patient has right to refuse

Always respect and accept the patients right to refuse the treatment, even though proper information and consequences of the treatment refusal has explained.