A nurse is administering medication at the bedside. Which of the following actions should be the first priority?

a. The first priority when administering medication is to ensure the right patient is receiving the correct drug. This follows the "rights" of medication administration, which include right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time. Identifying the patient prevents medication errors.

b. Documentation is essential but should occur after administering the medication, not before confirming the correct patient and drug.

c. Rechecking the medication label is important, but it should be done before reaching the patient’s bedside. Once at the bedside, patient identification takes priority.

d. Obtaining orange juice may be necessary if the medication requires it, but ensuring the right patient receives the correct medication is the most critical initial step.

a) Encouraging self-application is beneficial in some cases, but it is not always appropriate. The nurse must ensure the medication is applied correctly and safely, especially if the patient has mobility or cognitive impairments.

b) Wearing treatment gloves is important when handling certain medications, but it is not required for all topical applications. Some medications, such as nitroglycerin ointment, require gloves to prevent nurse exposure, but others do not.

c) Changing gloves between skin preparation and medication application is not a universal requirement. In most cases, the same pair of gloves can be used unless contamination occurs.

d) Performing effective hand hygiene before and after applying the medication is the most essential action to prevent infection and cross-contamination.