Rights of Medication Administration in Nursing (5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12) NCLEX Review

Summary

In this video, Sarah, RN, reviews the essential rights of medication administration to help prevent errors and ensure patient safety. She covers the foundational five rights—right patient, medication, dose, route, and time—emphasizing careful verification, proper assessment, and accurate documentation. Sarah also explores additional rights such as right reason, assessment, education, documentation, patient refusal, and evaluation, highlighting real-world examples and practical tips for safe administration. The video stresses the nurse’s critical role as the final safety check, even with modern technology, and offers guidance on monitoring, patient communication, and ongoing evaluation to optimize medication safety and effectiveness.

Takeaways

• 😀 Nurses are the last safety net in medication administration and must double- or triple-check medications to prevent errors.
• 😀 The five basic rights of medication administration are Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Route, and Right Time/Frequency.
• 😀 Using at least two patient identifiers, such as name and date of birth, ensures the Right Patient is selected for medication.
• 😀 Carefully verify medication names, check for look-alike medications, confirm allergies, and assess prior patient experience with the medication.
• 😀 Always confirm the Right Dose by comparing the order with what is on hand, performing calculations if necessary, and double-checking with another nurse when required.
• 😀 Administer medications via the correct route and ensure the patient can safely receive it (oral, IV, IM, subcutaneous, or topical).
• 😀 Right Time/Frequency involves checking the MAR to avoid giving medications too early or too late, especially for time-sensitive medications like antibiotics, insulin, and anticoagulants.
• 😀 Expanded rights include Right Reason, Right Assessment, Right Education, Right Documentation, Right to Refuse, and Right Evaluation, enhancing patient safety.
• 😀 Right Education involves teaching patients about medication name, purpose, dose, administration, frequency, and side effects to ensure understanding and compliance.
• 😀 Accurate documentation after medication administration is crucial for communication with other healthcare providers and for patient safety.
• 😀 Nurses must assess the patient before giving medications and evaluate the effectiveness afterwards, adjusting care as needed.
• 😀 Patients have the Right to Refuse medications, and nurses should educate, investigate reasons, document thoroughly, and communicate with the prescribing physician.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the rights of medication administration?

The main purpose is to prevent medication errors and ensure patient safety, with nurses acting as the last safety net during medication administration.

What are the five basic rights of medication administration?

The five basic rights are: Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Route, and Right Time/Frequency.

How can a nurse verify the right patient before administering medication?

A nurse should use at least two patient identifiers, such as asking the patient for their full name and date of birth, and then cross-checking this information with their ID band and the medication administration record.

Why is it important to carefully check medication names?

Because many medications have similar-looking or similar-sounding names, and a quick glance could lead to administering the wrong medication, potentially harming the patient.

What steps should a nurse take to ensure the right dose is given?

The nurse should compare the ordered dose with what is available, perform any necessary calculations, split pills or withdraw the correct amount from a vial if needed, and have another nurse verify high-risk doses if required.

How can a nurse ensure the right route of administration?

The nurse should confirm the prescribed route (oral, IV, IM, subcutaneous, topical), check that the patient can receive the medication that way (e.g., can swallow pills), and prepare the appropriate supplies for administration.

What are some additional rights beyond the basic five, and why are they important?

Additional rights include Right Reason, Right Assessment, Right Education, Right Documentation, Right to Refuse, and Right Evaluation. They enhance patient safety by ensuring the medication is appropriate, monitored, and documented correctly while also involving the patient in their care.

Why is the right assessment critical before giving certain medications?

Assessment ensures the patient’s vital signs, lab values, and other parameters are safe for administration. For example, checking heart rate before giving a beta blocker or INR levels before giving warfarin helps prevent adverse effects.

What should a nurse document after administering medication?

The nurse should document the medication name, dose, route, time, site (if applicable), patient response, any relevant lab values, vital signs, and pain ratings for PRN medications to maintain accurate records and communicate with other healthcare providers.

How should a nurse handle a patient who refuses medication?

The nurse should educate the patient about the medication’s purpose, investigate the reason for refusal, document the refusal thoroughly, and communicate with the prescribing physician.

What is the significance of the right evaluation after medication administration?

The right evaluation ensures the medication is having the intended therapeutic effect, such as controlling atrial fibrillation or managing fluid overload, and guides future medication management and patient care.