A nurse is preparing to administer a high-alert medication. Which of the following actions best demonstrates adherence to the Six Rights of Medication Administration?
Verifying the medication order with two identifiers and checking the drug label.
Checking the patient's chart for any allergies.
Ensuring the medication is administered at the right time.
Informing the patient about potential side effects.
The Correct Answer is A
Rationale:
A. Verifying the medication order with two identifiers and checking the drug label: This action directly addresses the Six Rights—right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation—by confirming both the patient and medication before administration, which is especially critical for high-alert drugs.
B. Checking the patient's chart for any allergies: Allergy verification is essential for patient safety, but it addresses only one aspect of safe administration and does not cover all Six Rights.
C. Ensuring the medication is administered at the right time: Correct timing is important, but focusing solely on time does not ensure all Six Rights are met.
D. Informing the patient about potential side effects: Patient education is a vital component of care, yet it does not substitute for verifying the correct medication, dose, route, and patient identifiers.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Assess the patient's ability to swallow before administration: Evaluating the patient’s swallowing ability is the first and most important step to prevent choking, aspiration, or medication errors. This assessment guides whether modifications to the route or form are necessary.
B. Change the route to intravenous administration without consulting the provider: Altering the route without provider approval can be unsafe and may lead to incorrect dosing or adverse effects. Route changes require an order and clinical judgment.
C. Crush the medication and mix it with water or applesauce: Crushing may be appropriate for some medications, but not all (e.g., extended-release or enteric-coated forms). This action should only be taken after assessing swallowing ability and verifying the medication can safely be altered.
D. Administer the medication with a large glass of juice to ensure it is swallowed: Simply giving fluids does not address dysphagia risk and may not prevent aspiration. Proper assessment and potentially alternative administration strategies are needed for safety.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Gram: Grams measure mass or weight, not fluid volume. Using grams to measure intravenous fluids would not provide an accurate representation of the volume to be administered.
B. Meter: Meters measure length or distance and are unrelated to fluid measurement. This unit cannot accurately quantify the amount of intravenous fluid required for a patient.
C. Millimeter: Millimeters measure length, not volume. Although milliliters (mL) are used for fluid, millimeters alone are inappropriate for intravenous fluid measurement.
D. Liter: Liters and milliliters are metric units specifically designed for measuring fluid volume. Intravenous fluids are commonly prescribed in liters or milliliters.
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