10 RIGHTS OF MEDICINE ADMINISTRATION
There are some aspects of medicine administration, which arc important for the nurse to check each time a medication is administered. These are referred as 10 rights of medicine administration.
1. RIGHT
MEDICATION:
Read physician's order to study the name of
the drug, if the order is not clear consult with the doctor.
Be meticulous of the drugs whose names sound
alike.
Select
thc right drug from the cupboard, read the label of the container and name of
the medicine thrice.
Check 3 times-
1
) before removing the container from drawer.
2) As medication is removed from container
3)
Patient’s bedside before administering the Medication
Administer medicine from a clearly labelled
container.
Avoid
conversation or anything that distracts the mind during preparation.
Make
sure that the doctor has not discontinued the drug.
two
people should check before giving medications.
Administer
only mcdications prepared by yourself
2. RIGHT
DOSE
Read
the doctor's order carefully to know the accurate dosage.
Consider
the age and weight of the client, thus find out the error in dosage. If any.
Use
standard measurement devices to measure dose
Should
know the minimum and maximum dose of a medicine.
Measure
and calculate accuracy.
Have
the medicine card or written order in hand before you prepare the medicine.
Avoid
conversation.
Know
the abbreviations and symbols in medication card. Avoid spillage of liquid medication.
Clean
crushing device to avoid previous remaining dose.
3. RIGHT
TIME
Give the medication at right frequency and at
time ordered according to the agency.
Give
medication as ordered in relation to food intake.
Give
the medication according to the action expected.
Nurses clinical judgment- e.g. Sleeping pill
Q8h-every
8 hours- to maintain blood levels
Tid-3
times a day
Stat - give immediately
PC- after meals
Prn-when necessary
Insulin -before meals
4. RIGHT
ROUTE
Give
the medication through ordered route.
Make
sure that the route is safe and appropriate for client.
Stay
with the patient until he or she has taken the medicine.
Never
leave any medication with the patient.
When
oral medication is prepared in syringe label it
5. RIGHT
CLIENT
Read
the physician's order for whom the Indication is prescribed.
Read
the name on the chart and prescription.
By
asking the client, to state their name
Check
the patient's identification band with each administration.
6. RIGHT
DOCUMENTATION
Document
the given medication, after the procedure.
If the time of administration differs from the
prescribed time, note the time and specify the reason.
If
the medication is not given, follow the hospital policy for documenting the
reason.
Document
site of injection and patient's response to medication.
Indicate
which medication was given.
Document
name of drug, dose, and time of administration.
7 Right
assessment
Some
medication require specific assessment prior to administration of medication.
E.g.
Observation of apical pulse, BP, lab results
8.
Right evaluation
Evaluating
for achieving appropriate effect of medication e.g.Occurrences of any side effects
9 Right patient education
Explain
information about medication, its purpose, side effects
What are the precautions to be kept in mind
with regard to the medication taken?
10
Right to Refuse Medication
COMMENTS