What method is recommended to verify the right medication is being administered?

What method is recommended to verify the right medication is being administered?

• A. Check the dosage with a pharmacist
• B. Consult the prescribing physician
• C. Check the medication label against the patient’s medication administration record (MAR)
• D. Ask the patient about their medications

Answer: (C)

The recommended method to verify the right medication is being administered is to check the medication label against the patient’s medication administration record (MAR). This practice is crucial because it involves directly comparing the medication being prepared for administration with the documentation that outlines what the patient is supposed to receive. The MAR contains detailed information, including the name of the medication, dosage, administration route, and timing, which helps ensure that the medication matches what is prescribed. By referencing the MAR, healthcare professionals can catch potential errors such as mismatched medications, incorrect dosages, or administration at improper times, significantly reducing the risk of medication errors. This systematic approach reinforces the "five rights" of medication administration—right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, and right time—ensuring patient safety and effective treatment. While checking with a pharmacist and consulting with the prescribing physician are valid practices for obtaining information about medications, they do not serve as direct verification methods like comparing the medication against the MAR. Similarly, asking the patient about their medications can provide useful insight but may not always yield accurate or comprehensive information, as patients might forget or be unaware of their prescribed medications. Thus, checking the medication label against the MAR stands out as the most effective verification method.

The recommended method to verify the right medication is being administered is to check the medication label against the patient’s medication administration record (MAR). This practice is crucial because it involves directly comparing the medication being prepared for administration with the documentation that outlines what the patient is supposed to receive. The MAR contains detailed information, including the name of the medication, dosage, administration route, and timing, which helps ensure that the medication matches what is prescribed.

By referencing the MAR, healthcare professionals can catch potential errors such as mismatched medications, incorrect dosages, or administration at improper times, significantly reducing the risk of medication errors. This systematic approach reinforces the "five rights" of medication administration—right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, and right time—ensuring patient safety and effective treatment.

While checking with a pharmacist and consulting with the prescribing physician are valid practices for obtaining information about medications, they do not serve as direct verification methods like comparing the medication against the MAR. Similarly, asking the patient about their medications can provide useful insight but may not always yield accurate or comprehensive information, as patients might forget or be unaware of their prescribed medications. Thus, checking the medication label against the MAR stands out as the most effective verification method.