10 Rights of Medication Administration Quiz

Medication Administration Rights

• Nurses play a crucial role in administering, preparing, and dispensing medications in various healthcare environments.
• Medication administration errors (MAEs) have a high occurrence rate of 60%, primarily involving wrong time, rate, or dose.

Right Drug

• Verify the medication name and form to ensure it matches prescribed orders.
• Be cautious of look-alike and sound-alike drug names that can lead to misreading and errors, especially with verbal prescriptions.
• Refer to The Joint Commission's list of look-alike/sound-alike medications for guidance.

Right Patient

• Confirm the patient’s identity by asking their name and checking their ID band prior to administering medication, even if the nurse is familiar with the patient.

Right Dose

• Always cross-check the medication administration sheet against the doctor's orders to confirm dosages are correct.
• Differentiate between adult and pediatric dosages to prevent serious errors.

Right Route

• Ensure the route of administration (PO, IV, SQ, IM, etc.) matches the physician's order to avoid complications.

Right Time and Frequency

• Verify the schedule for medication administration, including the timing of the last dose given to uphold proper medication intervals.

Right Documentation

• Document the administration time and any relevant remarks accurately in the patient's chart to maintain clear and complete medical records.

Right History and Assessment

• Obtain a comprehensive patient history to assess for potential drug interactions and allergies prior to administration.

Right to Refuse

• Allow clients the autonomy to refuse medications, ensuring they are informed about potential effects and consequences of unmedicated treatment.

Right Drug-Drug Interaction and Evaluation

• Review the patient's previous medications and dietary habits for possible adverse interactions with the new medication.
• Verify the expiration date of all medications before administration to ensure safety.

Right Education and Information

• Educate patients about the medications they will be taking, detailing expected therapeutic outcomes and possible side effects to promote informed consent.