After administering a medication, the nurse should
Experts have called for the five rights to be expanded to the ten rights of medication administration.When it comes to the safe administration of medications, you can never be too careful, especially as up to 10% of patients experience unwanted side effects or reactions, and research shows that administration errors make up 60% of all drug errors. Show
The rights of medication administration are there not only to reduce the harm caused by medication errors but also to protect the interests of the patient and the nurse administering. The 10 Rights of Medications Administration1. Right patient
2. Right medication
3. Right dose
4. Right route
5. Right time
6. Right patient education
7. Right documentation
8. Right to refuse
9. Right assessment
10. Right evaluation
Points 1 to 5 are the ‘5 Rights of Medication Administration. Points 6-10 are unratified checks that have been suggested by multiple US nursing boards and research panels to enhance patient safety. Nurses reach out to me regularly with questions concerning medication administration and preparation.One reader asked about a nurse’s responsibilities when drawing up an injectible medication but not administering it, and specifically wanted to know about the documentation duties affiliated with the draw-up. Proper preparation and medication administrationOne of the first general principles in medication administration that a nurse must adhere to is to personally prepare any medications properly ordered for a patient and to personally administer those medications. Although there may be instances in which more than one healthcare provider may be required to administer a single medication, such as in a code, it is not generally acceptable practice to prepare any type of medication for another person to administer. Nor is it acceptable practice to administer a medication that another has prepared. The reasons for this strict rule are numerous. First and foremost, because preparation and administration are fraught with potential for error, relying on another nurse to prepare a medication that you administer is dangerous at best.
If there is a patient injury or death because of an incorrect drug or an incorrect amount given, both you and your colleague will be named in a suit filed by that patient or the patient’s family. During the judicial process, the two of you most likely will be at odds with each other, as your colleague will steadfastly state he or she prepared the drug as ordered while you try to convince the jury otherwise. Explore Your Higher Education OptionsIn addition, since you administered a medication you did not personally prepare, you will need to overcome the testimony of a nurse expert that a general, cardinal rule in administering medications is that one never administers a drug not personally prepared. Responsible and truthful documentationA second reason this rule is important is the fact that along with personally preparing and administering a medication, the nurse doing so is also responsible for the proper, accurate and truthful documentation of the medication administered. This responsibility speaks to a nurse’s accountability when preparing, administering and documenting medications given.
Falsification of any record is a serious allegation that can result in an employee being fired or reported to the state board of nursing. And if a patient injury or death occurs because of the medication administered and its surrounding false documentation, a verdict against those involved in the professional negligence or wrongful death suit is very likely. Following the basic rule coupled with the “8 rights of medication administration” — right patient, right dose, right medication, right route, right time, right reason, right response and right documentation — can help you avoid medication administration errors.  Discover how Nurse.com can help you find your next dream job. Dealing with the guilt of leaving your jobNextUCSF telephone discharge program poster wins national honorOur legal information columnist Nancy J. Brent, MS, JD, RN, concentrates her solo law practice in health law and legal representation, consultation, and education for healthcare professionals, school of nursing faculty and healthcare delivery facilities. Brent has conducted many seminars on legal issues and has published extensively in the area of law and nursing practice. She brings more than 30 years of experience to her role of legal information columnist. Her posts are designed for educational purposes only and are not to be taken as specific legal or other advice. Individuals who need advice on a specific incident or work situation should contact a nurse attorney or attorney in their state. What to do after administering medication?Document administration AFTER giving the ordered medication. Chart the time, route, and any other specific information as necessary.. Check the order.. Confirm appropriateness of the dose using a current drug reference.. If necessary, calculate the dose and have another nurse calculate the dose as well.. What are the nursing responsibilities when administering medications?Nurses' responsibility for medication administration includes ensuring that the right medication is properly drawn up in the correct dose, and administered at the right time through the right route to the right patient. To limit or reduce the risk of administration errors, many hospitals employ a single-dose system.
What is most important when administering medications?One of the recommendations to reduce medication errors and harm is to use the “five rights”: the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the right time.
Why should you monitor patients after administering drugs?This helps your provider figure out the most effective dose for you. Once that dose is determined, you may be tested regularly to make sure the medicine is still effective without being harmful. You may also need testing if you have symptoms of a serious side effect.
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