What are "the six rights" of medication administration?

The six rights of medication administration are essential guidelines that ensure patient safety and increase the likelihood of effective treatment. The correct response highlights four critical rights: the right patient, right drug, right dose, and right route.

• The right patient emphasizes the importance of confirming the individual's identity before administering any medication, which helps prevent medication errors and protects patient safety.

• The right drug involves verifying that the correct medication is being given, which is crucial to avoid administering an inappropriate or harmful substance.

• The right dose ensures that the patient receives the appropriate quantity of the medication as prescribed, which is vital for achieving the desired therapeutic effect while minimizing the risk of overdose or underdosing.

• The right route refers to how the medication is to be administered, whether orally, intravenously, topically, etc., which is important for ensuring the medication's efficacy.

These four rights are part of a broader set often referred to as the six rights, which typically also include the right time and right reason, among other factors. This systematic approach is pivotal in sterile compounding and medication administration, helping practitioners adhere to best practices that safeguard patient health.