A nurse is administering a client's morning oral medications. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Explanation & Rationale
A. "Verify the medication three times with the medication administration record.": This is the best practice for ensuring the correct medication is administered. The nurse should verify the medication when removing it from storage, before preparing the medication, and at the bedside before giving it to the patient to ensure the right drug, dose, patient, time, and route. B. "Administer time-critical medication 60 min before or after the scheduled time.": Time-critical medications should be administered within a specified window of 30 minutes before or after the scheduled time, not 60 minutes. Administering medication too early or late could compromise its effectiveness. C. "Identify the client by using one identifier before giving the medication.": The correct approach is to use two identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) to verify the client's identity, not just one. This reduces the risk of medication errors. D. "Document medication administration prior to administering medication.": Documentation should occur after medication administration, not before, to ensure accurate recordkeeping of the event.