Medication Administration: 5 Rights, 3 Checks, Injection Sites, Syringes, and Needle Gauges

Vocabulary flashcards covering the five rights of medication administration, the three medication safety checks, intramuscular injection sites and landmarks, syringe dose reading, and needle gauge specifications.

Right patient

The right of medication administration requiring the nurse to check the required patient identifiers against the MAR.

Right medication

The right of medication administration requiring the nurse to match the medication label to the MAR.

Right dose

The right of medication administration requiring the nurse to calculate the dose and verify the exact amount to administer.

Right route

The right of medication administration requiring the nurse to verify how the medication is ordered to be given, such as oral or SubQ.

Right time

The right of medication administration requiring the nurse to verify the scheduled time, the last dose when relevant, and timing instructions.

"Before, During, Before giving"

The mnemonic phrase used to remember when to perform the three medication checks during the administration process.

First check (Medication administration)

The check conducted when selecting the medication by comparing the medication label with the MAR.

Second check (Medication administration)

The check conducted when preparing the medication by rechecking the label, dose, and order as the medication is prepared.

Third check (Medication administration)

The check conducted at the bedside before administration by completing the required final comparison with the MAR and verifying the patient and medication.

Ventrogluteal site

An intramuscular injection site located on the hip, identified using the anterosuperior iliac spine and the greater trochanter as primary anatomical landmarks.

Vastus lateralis site

An intramuscular injection site located on the anterolateral thigh between the greater trochanter and the knee, lateral to the rectus femoris and femoral artery.

Deltoid site

An intramuscular injection site located on the upper arm below the acromion process and scapula, positioned to avoid the brachial artery and radial nerve along the humerus.

Intramuscular (IM) injection sites (Figure 35.14)

An anatomical guide showing landmark identification for the three main IM sites: (A) Ventrogluteal, (B) Vastus lateralis, and (C) Deltoid.

Primary syringe components

The three anatomical parts of a standard hypodermic syringe: the plunger, the barrel, and the tip.

IM

1-1 ½ inches — 22-25G 90 degree angle

SubQ

3/8-5/8 inch — 25-30 G 45 or 90 angle