Before dispensing any medication, which steps should you perform?

Before dispensing any medication, which steps should you perform?

• A. Administer if the resident agrees
• B. Only check the label for accuracy
• C. Verify identity using at least two identifiers, compare MAR with label, and check expiration date
• D. Rely on nurse's instruction only

Answer: (C)

Before dispensing any medication, you must perform key safety checks: verify the resident’s identity using at least two identifiers (for example, full name and date of birth), compare the MAR with the medication label to ensure you have the right drug for the right patient and the prescribed dose, and check the expiration date to confirm the medication is still safe to use. These steps help prevent the main safety failures in med administration, such as giving the wrong person, the wrong drug, or a drug that is no longer potent. Simply getting the resident’s agreement isn’t enough, checking only the label misses the need to confirm the MAR and expiration, and relying solely on a nurse’s instruction can lead to miscommunication and errors.

Before dispensing any medication, you must perform key safety checks: verify the resident’s identity using at least two identifiers (for example, full name and date of birth), compare the MAR with the medication label to ensure you have the right drug for the right patient and the prescribed dose, and check the expiration date to confirm the medication is still safe to use. These steps help prevent the main safety failures in med administration, such as giving the wrong person, the wrong drug, or a drug that is no longer potent. Simply getting the resident’s agreement isn’t enough, checking only the label misses the need to confirm the MAR and expiration, and relying solely on a nurse’s instruction can lead to miscommunication and errors.