NursingNotes
  • login
  • signup
  • Latest News
  • Clinical Updates
  • Professional
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
NursingNotes
No Result
View All Result

Home > Resources

The 10 Rights of Medication Administration

The rights of medication administration are there not only to reduce the harm caused by medication errors but also to protect the interests of the patient and the nurse administering.


15 November 2015
Community Nurse with Patient

Adobe

Experts have called for the five rights to be expanded to the ten rights of medication administration.

When it comes to the safe administration of medications, you can never be too careful, especially as up to 10% of patients experience unwanted side effects or reactions, and research shows that administration errors make up 60% of all drug errors.



The rights of medication administration are there not only to reduce the harm caused by medication errors but also to protect the interests of the patient and the nurse administering.

The 10 Rights of Medications Administration

1. Right patient

  • Check the name on the prescription and wristband.
  • Ideally, use 2 or more identifiers and ask the patient to identify themselves.

2. Right medication

  • 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.

3. Right dose


  • Check the prescription.
  • Confirm the appropriateness of the dose using the BNF or local guidelines.
  • If necessary, calculate the dose and have another nurse calculate the dose as well.

4. Right route

  • Again, check the order and appropriateness of the route prescribed.
  • Confirm that the patient can take or receive the medication by the ordered route.

5. Right time

  • Check the frequency of the prescribed medication.
  • Double-check that you are giving the prescribed at the correct time.
  • Confirm when the last dose was given.

6. Right patient education

  • Check if the patient understands what the medication is for.
  • Make them aware they should contact a healthcare professional if they experience side-effects or reactions.

7. Right documentation


  • Ensure you have signed for the medication AFTER it has been administered.
  • Ensure the medication is prescribed correctly with a start and end date if appropriate.

8. 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.

9. Right assessment

  • Check your patient actually needs the medication.
  • Check for contraindications.
  • Baseline observations if required.

10. Right evaluation

  • Ensure the medication is working the way it should.
  • Ensure medications are reviewed regularly.
  • Ongoing observations if required.

Points 1 to 5 are the ‘5 Rights of Medication Administration. Points 6-10 are unratified checks that have been suggested by multiple US nursing boards and research panels to enhance patient safety. 

Please login to join discussion


Popular

Patient face mask in GP

GP practices can now deregister patients for ‘unrealistic service demands’

2 June 2022

student nurse staff nurse

Student nurses ‘used and abused’ on placements

13 June 2022

RCN

Nursing staff demand immediate review of ‘not fit for purpose’ Agenda for Change pay and conditions

8 June 2022

Insight

Busy A&E waiting room

‘The NHS is having its worst winter ever – and the reasons run much deeper than COVID’

28 January 2022

Hospital curtain intensive care

‘During the Downing Street Christmas Party we were caring for dying patients and forbidden from seeing family’

8 December 2021

Vaccine inPPE

‘Making vaccination compulsory for NHS frontline workers likely to make patients suffer’

19 November 2021


Related Posts

IV Medication being administered to a patient
News

US hospital reports ‘losing’ a massive 29 litres of Fentanyl

17 June 2022
Consent withdrawal form at NHS Digital website seen on the smartphone. Form that stops NHS patient records to be shared with third parties. Stafford, England, May 26, 2021
Opinion

‘UK government plans to collect and share NHS data are hugely concerning – here’s why’

15 June 2021
Hospital Parking Charges Liverpool
Opinion

‘Scrapping free car parking is just another slap in the face for NHS workers’

2 June 2021
NursingNotes

© 2019 NursingNotes.co.uk

Navigate Site

  • Who are we?
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Agenda for Change Pay Scales

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • Clinical
  • Education
  • Health Politics
  • Opinion
  • Resources

© 2019 NursingNotes.co.uk

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In