In a hospital setting, what is the priority practice by a practical nurse to ensure administration of the correct medication to the correct client?

In a hospital setting, what is the priority practice by a practical nurse to ensure administration of the correct medication to the correct client?

• A. Check each client's identification bracelet.
• B. Address each client by his or her last name prior to administering the medication.
• C. Check each client's health card or hospital identification card.
• D. Check the names that are posted above the client's bed or attached to the bottom of the bed.

Answer: (A)

Confirming who the patient is at the bedside is the top safety step before giving any medication. The identification bracelet provides the most reliable, real-time confirmation of the patient’s identity, so you can compare it with the medication order to ensure the right person receives the right drug and dose. Addressing someone by last name can be helpful for communication but doesn’t reliably verify identity, especially with similar or unfamiliar names. A health card or hospital ID card may not be readily accessible at the bedside or could be misread, and names posted at the bed can be outdated or refer to a different patient in a shared space. Therefore, checking the identification bracelet is the best practice to prevent medication errors.

Confirming who the patient is at the bedside is the top safety step before giving any medication. The identification bracelet provides the most reliable, real-time confirmation of the patient’s identity, so you can compare it with the medication order to ensure the right person receives the right drug and dose. Addressing someone by last name can be helpful for communication but doesn’t reliably verify identity, especially with similar or unfamiliar names. A health card or hospital ID card may not be readily accessible at the bedside or could be misread, and names posted at the bed can be outdated or refer to a different patient in a shared space. Therefore, checking the identification bracelet is the best practice to prevent medication errors.