Chapter 46: Administering Medication: Safety and Rights

What are the rights of medication administration?

Right patient, drug, dose, route, time, technique, documentation; also verify reason, response, and right to refuse per policy.

When should drug labels be checked?

Three times: when selecting, preparing, and before administering.

What are the two patient identifiers before medication administration?

Full name and DOB or other approved identifiers.

What should be checked before giving a medication?

Order, allergies, expiration, dose, route, patient, contraindications/concerns.

What should be documented after medication administration?

Date/time, drug, dose, route, site if applicable, lot/manufacturer for vaccines, patient response, education.

What should the MA do if the patient refuses medication?

Do not force; notify provider and document refusal per policy.

What should the MA do if medication error occurs?

Ensure patient safety, notify provider/supervisor immediately, follow incident reporting policy.

What is the correct order for medication administration?

Verify order -> identify patient -> check allergies -> gather medication -> check label 3 times -> administer using correct technique -> observe -> document.

What medications require special storage commonly tested?

Insulin and many vaccines require refrigeration unless opened/in-use according to manufacturer instructions.

Why can some insulin be kept at room temperature after opening?

Manufacturer stability allows limited room-temperature use after opening; reduces injection discomfort and remains potent for specified days.

What should the MA do if medication storage temperature is out of range?

Quarantine medication/vaccine, label do not use, notify supervisor/provider, follow manufacturer/public health guidance.