When preparing to administer medication, the physicians order must be reviewed by the nurse such as the rout of the medicines. Many medication are supplied in various preparation and need specific right route. Of course the choice of medication administration is depend on several factor including the client's blood level, ability to swallow and disease or disorder being treated.
However there is the seven rights when administering medication to the patient. They include five rights of drug administration and two of patient's bill of rights.
These seven rights of medication administration are:
- Right client / patient: should be done by asking the client to state his name and checking the identification band.
- Right route: medications should be given as physician's prescribed route of administration.
- Right drug: the name of the drug as well as the generic name ordered by physician should be checked promptly. The nurse should investigate when the patient's diagnosis does not match the drug category.
- Right amount: The nurse is expected to know common dosages for both adults and children.
- Right time: the nurse can administer the medication either 30 minutes before or after the assigned time.
- Right documentation (as the Patient's Bill of Rights and legality issues in nursing): it mus be done to prevent duplicating drug administration,
- Right to refuse treatment (as the Patient's Bill of Rights): the patient / client has the right to refuse medication or treatment physician ordered.
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