What does the 'five rights' of medication administration include?

What does the 'five rights' of medication administration include?

• A. Right patient, right dose, right route
• B. Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time
• C. Right patient, right dose, right route, and right time
• D. Right drug, right dose, right route, and right time

Answer: (B)

Focusing on medication safety, the five rights ensure you verify before giving a drug. The best answer includes the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the right time.

Right patient means confirming the person you’re treating matches the order, typically using two identifiers (like name and birthdate) to avoid giving meds to the wrong patient. Right drug means checking the medication label and the order to make sure you’re administering the exact drug intended, while also watching for look-alike or sound-alike names that could cause mix-ups. Right dose involves verifying the exact amount and units on the order and performing any necessary calculations correctly. Right route ensures the medication is given by the correct pathway (oral, IV, etc.) as prescribed, and that the route is appropriate for the patient and the drug. Right time means administering at the scheduled time or per specified timing, including respect for intervals and any PRN instructions.

These checks work together to minimize med errors and keep patients safe. Omitting any one of them opens the door to potential harm—for example, giving a dose at the wrong time can alter effectiveness or safety.