A nurse working in a rehabilitation unit is administering medications to two clients who have the same name. Which of the following identifiers should the nurse use to verify the identities of each client?

A. Using the telephone numbers of the clients is correct. According to The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals, at least two unique identifiers, such as date of birth and telephone number, should be used to verify client identity before administering medications to prevent errors. B. Using the room numbers of the clients is incorrect. Room numbers can change, and relying on them increases the risk of medication errors if a client is moved or misidentified. C. Using the diagnoses of the clients is incorrect. A diagnosis is not a unique identifier, as multiple clients in a unit may have the same or similar conditions, leading to potential confusion. D. Using the names of the clients' nearest relatives is incorrect. Family members’ names do not provide a direct, unique way to verify the client’s identity, making them unreliable for medication administration.