Medication Administration 3 checks

Well we were just doing this is Skills class and our teacher told us you do the first check as you take the meds out, the second check as you pour/measure out the meds, and the third check as you are putting them away.

Kellicyrist said:

I was wondering if anyone could tell me if this is correct:

Using the "6 rights"...

You do the first check when you're taking out the medication from the cabinet.

You do the second check after you've taken out all the medication from the cabinet and put the drawer back.

You do the third check at the bedside right before you give the patient the medication.

correct.

our school is teaching the 7 rights. Apparently they have added another one to the mix (it is in all my nursing books).

Didn't know if you all ever heard that, buy I thought I'd let you all know.

Well?? lol What is it?

Carebear77 said:

our school is teaching the 7 rights. Apparently they have added another one to the mix (it is in all my nursing books).

Didn't know if you all ever heard that, buy I thought I'd let you all know.

yes i'd like to know too!

LOL, we now have EIGHT, for goodness' sake. The "right to refuse" by the patient, and the "right to information" which actually we haven't been taught, I just saw it. I assume that's also the patient's right. I don't know why they have to confuse the issue, six is plenty!

Kelly

kluellen said:

LOL, we now have EIGHT, for goodness' sake. The "right to refuse" by the patient, and the "right to information" which actually we haven't been taught, I just saw it. I assume that's also the patient's right. I don't know why they have to confuse the issue, six is plenty!

Kelly

wow 8:uhoh3:

Yea, our other one is the patients right to refuse.

But that is pretty much goes along with laws and the patients right to his/ her care.

And as nurses, it should be obvious that we are going to provide the patient with the right information.

I think 6 rights is plenty, the other are just to much, we already know that is part of their rights.

ohwell, What is one to do

Carebear77 said:

wow 8:uhoh3:

Yea, our other one is the patients right to refuse.

But that is pretty much goes along with laws and the patients right to his/ her care.

And as nurses, it should be obvious that we are going to provide the patient with the right information.

I think 6 rights is plenty, the other are just to much, we already know that is part of their rights.

ohwell, What is one to do

We have 6 rights, but a classmate and I made up 2 more to help us remember...

Right:

1. patient

2. drug

3. dose

4. route

5. time

6. documentation

the extras:

7. expiration date

8. right REASON

#8 reminds me to stop and ask, WHY is this patient getting this drug? is it SAFE to give? For example, are there any labs to check, allergies, contraindications to giving it? It helps me alot! ?

mixy said:

We have 6 rights, but a classmate and I made up 2 more to help us remember...

Right:

1. patient

2. drug

3. dose

4. route

5. time

6. documentation

the extras:

7. expiration date

8. right REASON

#8 reminds me to stop and ask, WHY is this patient getting this drug? is it SAFE to give? For example, are there any labs to check, allergies, contraindications to giving it? It helps me alot! ?

I like how you added the last 2, those are very good. ?

As far as the 3 med checks- we learned it this way & it's easy to remember-

Pick it- when you take it out of the cart

Pop it- when you remove the med from the container (bottle or individual packetes)

Put it away- when you put the container back.

Dixie

our book has 5 standard rights and then another five rights--

right med, person, time, route and dose, then right to refuse, right document, right assesment, right evaluation and right something something else, maybe education?

krenee said:

LOL, we now have EIGHT, for goodness' sake. The "right to refuse" by the patient, and the "right to information" which actually we haven't been taught, I just saw it. I assume that's also the patient's right. I don't know why they have to confuse the issue, six is plenty!

Kelly

From my current med surg book we are still learning the official 5 rights with the addition of the "6th right"- right documentation.

I'm a little confused as to why schools are mixing up ethical principles of "patients rights" (e.g. right to refuse medications) with the "medication rights" (have the right medication, dose, time, route, patient).

"i have the right to drink my coffee" and "i did not get the right coffee" are not the same uses of the word "right". This is a homonym error- instructors and authors of text books should know the difference.