What is important to include when verifying medication before administration?

Including the name and form of the medication is a fundamental aspect of verifying medication before administration because it ensures that the correct medication is being given to the patient. The name of the medication allows the healthcare provider to confirm that the right drug is selected, while the form (such as tablet, liquid, or injection) is important for understanding how the medication is to be administered. If the form does not match the prescribed route—such as administering a liquid form when an injection is required—this could lead to serious errors.

In practice, verification processes often involve checking the medication label and comparing it against the patient’s medication order. This step is critical for preventing medication errors that could arise from confusion between similarly named drugs or from administering the medication in the wrong form. Other important aspects like route, expiration date, allergies, dosage, provider's name, and lot number also play significant roles in safe medication administration but are not as foundational to identifying the medication being given.