Five Rights of Medication Administration
This right ensures the medication is given to the correct person using two identifiers.
the right patient
This anticoagulant is commonly involved in medication errors and requires careful monitoring of aPTT.
heparin
This device controls the rate of IV medication delivery.
infusion pump
This opioid analgesic is often confused with morphine due to similar packaging.
hydromorphone
This scanning system verifies the patient and medication before administration.
bar-code medication administration (BCMA)
This right confirms the medication matches the provider’s order.
the right medication
This electrolyte medication should never be given as an IV push due to risk of fatal arrhythmias.
potassium chloride (KCl)
Many high-risk IV medications require this safety step where two clinicians independently verify the order and preparation.
independent double check
These two insulins sound similar and are stored away from each other.
Humulin and Humalog
This type of medication error occurs when a drug is given in a larger amount than intended.
dosing error or overdose
This right ensures the medication is given in the correct amount.
the right drug
This medication class used to treat diabetes can cause severe hypoglycemia if misdosed.
insulin
This IV administration method delivers medication diluted in a small volume over time.
IV piggyback or secondary infusion
This antibiotic may be confused with cefazolin because of similar names.
ceftriaxone or cefepime
This report should be completed when a medication error or near miss occurs.
incident report
This right ensures medications are given at the correct scheduled time.
the right time
This opioid reversal medication is used in cases of respiratory depression from opioid overdose.
naloxone or Narcan
This complication occurs when IV fluid leaks into surrounding tissue.
IV infiltration
This medication safety strategy uses capitalization to differentiate similar drug names like hydrOXYzine and hydrALAZINE.
Tall Man lettering
Interruptions during medication preparation have been shown to increase medication errors; minimizing them during medication preparation supports this safety practice.
reducing interruptions or creating a "no interruption zone"
This right confirms whether the medication should be given orally, IV, IM, or another method.
the right route
The reversal agent for warfarin when the patient has an INR between 4.5 and 10, AND the patient is at a high risk of bleeding (INCLUDE CORRECT DOSING)
2.5-5 mg PO vitamin K
This dangerous complication occurs when vesicant drugs leak into tissue causing tissue necrosis.
IV extravasation
These two medications sound similar, but one is used to treat allergies and the other is used to treat high blood pressure.
hydroxyzine and hydralazine
This analytical process examines how a medication error occurred by identifying underlying system failures rather than blaming individuals.
root cause analysis (RCA)