20 rights of medication administration In nursing
Answers
The 10 Rights of Medications Administration
1. Right patient
Check the name on the prescription and wristband.
Ideally, use 2 or more identifiers and ask the patient to identify themselves.
2. Right medication
Check the name of the medication, brand names should be avoided.
Check the expiry date.
Check the prescription.
Make sure medications, especially antibiotics, are reviewed regularly.
3. Right dose
Check the prescription.
Confirm appropriateness of the dose using the BNF or local guidelines.
If necessary, calculate the dose and have another nurse calculate the dose as well.
4. Right route
Again, check the order and appropriateness of the route prescribed.
Confirm that the patient can take or receive the medication by the ordered route.
5. Right time
Check the frequency of the prescribed medication.
Double-check that you are giving the prescribed at the correct time.
Confirm when the last dose was given.
6. Right patient education
Check if the patient understands what the medication is for.
Make them aware they should contact a healthcare professional if they experience side-effects or reactions.
7. Right documentation
Ensure you have signed for the medication AFTER it has been administered.
Ensure the medication is prescribed correctly with a start and end date if appropriate.
8. Right to refuse
Ensure you have the patient consent to administer medications.
Be aware that patients do have a right to refuse medication if they have the capacity to do so.
9. Right assessment
Check your patient actually needs the medication.
Check for contraindications.
Baseline observations if required.
10. Right evaluation
Ensure the medication is working the way it should.
Ensure medications are reviewed regularly.
Ongoing observations if required.
The purpose of the Rights of Medication Administration is to prevent medication errors.
The rights of medication administration in nursing are:
- Right to patient- We have to confirm that the right patient for the medication by using at least TWO patient identifiers. For example, if the person is suffering from a kidney stone then ultrasonography is a must.
- Right to medication-We has to confirm that the medication name and the expiry date, also the brand. Also, people must not be allergic to the prescribed dose.
- Right dose-The dosage must be checked and enquired before sending to the administer. We have should be aware and check it twice.
- Right route-There is various routes a dosage can be taken -oral, oral, IV, sub, IM, topically, etc but we should follow as it is prescribed.
- Right time-The timing of the prescribed medication should be key, a patient must not consume the medicine less or more, it might affect their health.
- Right documentation- Proper documentation must be given to check the details about the patient's health and the medication details.
- Right education-Proper knowledge about the medication and patient health is required to prevent any risk regarding the health.
- Right Assessment-Collect important assessment data that is needed for certain meds before administering them.
- Right to refuse- The patient might hesitate to take the medicine but after educating if they deny, then it must be documented and sued.
- Right Evaluation-Proper evaluation is required to know about so that everything will take at the right place also to avoid any risk.