The Five Rights of Medication Administration | IHI (2023)

FAQs

What is the 5 rights of medication administration? ›

One of the recommendations to reduce medication errors and harm is to use the “five rights”: the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the right time.

Following the 5 Rights of Medication Administration helps to ensure the right drug, right dose, right route, and right patient, at the right time.

The basic principles of drug administration are in place to keep the patient safe. These steps are usually taken by the nurse in the process of administering medication. Wash hands, put on gloves, and get any supplies necessary to give medication via the prescribed route.

Medications are substances taken into (or applied to) the body for the purpose of prevention, treatment, relief of symptoms, or cure.

Most health care professionals, especially nurses, know the “five rights” of medication use: the right patient, the right drug, the right time, the right dose, and the right route—all of which are generally regarded as a standard for safe medication practices.

Every person has a right to a continuity of good quality Health Care without discrimination and within the limits of the resources, manpower and competence available for health and medical care. In the course of such care, his human dignity, convictions, integrity, individual needs and culture shall be respected.

1) To help patients feel more confident in the US health care system, the Bill of Rights: Assures that the health care system is fair and it works to meet patients' needs. Gives patients a way to address any problems they may have. Encourages patients to take an active role in staying or getting healthy.

Improving such access could save millions of lives every year. The issue of vaccine equity and access to medicines is a fundamental component of the full realization of the right to health. Vaccines and medicines must not only be produced and made available; they must also be accessible to all persons.

Check the name of the medication, brand names should be avoided. Check the expiry date. Check the prescription. Make sure medications, especially antibiotics, are reviewed regularly.

How can I improve my medication administration skills? ›

Right Medication

Read the label of the medication, triple-check the patient's charts, and make sure you are administering the correct medication for that patient.

Nurses' responsibility for medication administration includes ensuring that the right medication is properly drawn up in the correct dose, and administered at the right time through the right route to the right patient.

Why is the route of administration important? Choosing the correct route of administration is vital to ensuring the delivery of the most efficacious dose in the most convenient way, with the lowest risk of side effects.

Nurses have the right to practice in a manner that fulfills their obligations to society and to those who receive nursing care. Nurses have the right to practice in environments that allow them to act in accordance with professional standards and legally authorized scopes of practice.

Every patient or client has the following responsibilities:

to take care of his or her health. to care for and protect the environment. to respect the rights of other patients and health providers. to utilise the health care system properly and not abuse it.

Individual rights (e.g. right to be respected, treated with equality, and fairly, respected as an individual and not discriminated against, privacy, dignity, protection from danger and harm; right to access information relevant to themselves; right to communicate using their preferred methods of communication and ...

Errors in administering medication can have devastating effects, so to protect people from any accidental harm you should always remember the Six Rights of Administration - they go as follows: Right Person – People can have very similar, or even the same names.

What five key elements would you check when administering medication? ›

Care with dignity supports the self-respect of the person, recognising their capacities and ambitions, and does nothing to undermine it. It includes respect for what they can do, who they are, and the life they've lived. It's seen as a central part of quality in care work.

​Patients have an important role in the medication administration process. Patients who've asked questions about the medications they were about to receive have prevented many medication errors. Clinical personnel should always pay close to attention to the questions and concerns of patients.

Common causes of medication error include incorrect diagnosis, prescribing errors, dose miscalculations, poor drug distribution practices, drug and drug device related problems, incorrect drug administration, failed communication and lack of patient education.

Intravenous administration is the best way to deliver a precise dose quickly and in a well-controlled manner throughout the body. It is also used for irritating solutions, which would cause pain and damage tissues if given by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection.

What to Do If Medication Errors Happen? Nurses and other hospital staff should immediately report the incident to the doctor and the nursing supervisor. Patients who suspect that their healthcare providers commit medication errors should immediately notify the doctor or nurse.

What route is ear drops? ›

Otic route:

The drug is administered in the outer ear canal as liquid drops. It is used to treat local infections/inflammation and there is minimum systemic absorption.

The first pass effect is a phenomenon in which a drug gets metabolized at a specific location in the body that results in a reduced concentration of the active drug upon reaching its site of action or the systemic circulation.

When performing these three checks, the nurse should ensure this is the right medication, right patient, right dosage, right route, and right time.

These 6 rights include the right patient, medication, dose, time, route and documentation. Futhermore, nurses are also urged to do the three checks; checking the MAR, checking while drawing up medication and checking again at bedside. It is important to check for allergies as well before administration.

This process comprises five steps: (1) develop a list of current medications; (2) develop a list of medications to be prescribed; (3) compare the medications on the two lists; (4) make clinical decisions based on the comparison; and (5) communicate the new list to appropriate caregivers and to the patient.

We highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the seven rights of medication administration in order to protect both your patients and yourself.

Your role in the Medication Cycle will also be defined. Here you can see the five parts of the medication cycle: observation, reporting changes, visiting the healthcare practitioner, getting and storing medication, and administration and documentation.

What is the form of medication? ›

Medications come in many dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, liquids, creams, and patches. They can also be given in different ways, such as by mouth, by infusion into a vein, or by drops that are put into the ear or eye.

Knowing about medications and how to assist individuals in using them is vital to the health and well- being of those you support. Following the Seven Rights each time you assist an individual with self-administration of medication is the best way for the Direct Support Professional (DSP) to prevent medication errors.

Right to refuse

Ensure you have the patient consent to administer medications. Be aware that patients do have a right to refuse medication if they have the capacity to do so.