What should be verified before administering medications?

Verifying patient identity and the "five rights" before administering medications is essential for ensuring patient safety and effective treatment. The "five rights" include the right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time. This systematic approach helps prevent medication errors, which can lead to serious adverse events.

Confirming the patient's identity ensures that the medication is administered to the correct individual, which is critical in avoiding potential harm from administering a drug to the wrong patient. Additionally, adhering to the "five rights" protocol fosters a comprehensive evaluation of the medication-related aspects, contributing to better clinical outcomes.

While verifying the time of day, the physician's signature, or the patient's insurance information may be relevant in certain contexts, they do not specifically address the immediate safety concerns linked to medication administration. The focus should always remain on the patient and the medication itself to maintain the highest standards of care and safety.