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MedTestBankNursing Drug Guide

The Rights of Medication Administration

The rights nurses check before every medication, the three label checks, patient identification, and what to do when something does not match.

The core rights

RightWhat to check
Right patientTwo identifiers (for example, name and date of birth) against the wristband and the medication record. A room number is never an identifier.
Right drugThe label against the order; watch for look-alike and sound-alike names. Check allergies.
Right doseThe calculation, the units (mg versus mcg) and whether it is within the usual range. Recalculate if a dose needs many tablets or vials.
Right routeOral, sublingual, IV, IM, subcutaneous, and whether the form fits the route (never give an oral liquid IV).
Right timeThe scheduled time and the facility's administration window; time-critical medications (insulin, antibiotics, Parkinson drugs) need extra care.
Right documentationDocument after giving, never before, with any assessment required (pulse, blood pressure, pain score).

Additional rights many programs teach

  • Right reason: the drug makes sense for this patient's condition.
  • Right response: evaluate the effect (pain relief, blood pressure, glucose).
  • Right to refuse: a competent patient can refuse; explain the risks, document and notify the prescriber.
  • Right education: tell the patient what the drug is for and what to report.
  • Right assessment: the data needed before giving (apical pulse, lab values, swallowing).

The three checks

  1. When you take the medication from the dispensing cabinet or drawer.
  2. When you prepare it.
  3. At the bedside, before giving it, together with barcode scanning when available.

When something does not match

  • Stop. Do not give the medication until the discrepancy is resolved.
  • Clarify unclear or incomplete orders with the prescriber, and use the pharmacist as a resource.
  • If the patient says the pill looks different, recheck before giving.
  • Report errors and near misses through the facility's reporting system.

Frequently asked questions

What are the 6 rights of medication administration?

Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time and right documentation. Many programs add right reason, right response, right to refuse and right education.

What are acceptable patient identifiers?

Two identifiers such as the full name and date of birth, or a medical record number, checked against the wristband and the medication record. The room number is not an identifier.