What are the "Five Rights" of medication administration?

The "Five Rights" of medication administration are foundational principles that help ensure patient safety and effective medication administration. The correct answer includes the following crucial aspects: right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time.

These five rights are designed to minimize the risk of medication errors:

1. Right Patient ensures that the medication is given to the correct individual. This is essential because administering medication to the wrong patient can lead to serious health risks.

2. Right Drug confirms that the specific medication prescribed is the one being administered. This helps prevent adverse drug events that can arise from giving the wrong medication.

3. Right Dose refers to the quantity of the medication being given. Administering an incorrect dose can either lead to ineffective treatment or potential overdose.

4. Right Route pertains to the method of administration, whether it’s oral, intravenous, intramuscular, etc. Different medications may require specific routes for optimal absorption and effectiveness.

5. Right Time involves the timing of the medication administration, which is critical to ensure that the medication works effectively in the body and maintains therapeutic levels.

These principles are fundamental in nursing and healthcare to safeguard against errors, guiding practitioners in their daily routines of medication administration