Medication Administration 3 checks

[Kellicyrist]

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.

[adroitfrogbob]

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.

[citylights89, BSN, RN]

midcom said:

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

I know this thread is like 3 years old, but I like that^^ I will find that very easy to remember.:)

[2ndyearstudent, CNA]

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.

Sounds about right. You get so used to doing 3 checks it will become second nature.

I realized after the fact I did three checks last night when I put a quart of oil in my car. One at the shelf, one at the register, then one right before I administered it.

It cracked me up, as I opened the container and was about to pour the oil, something said, "Do your third check."

[milksteak]

we have learned 9 rights.. but according to a few different websites, including one that was nih, there are TEN!!!!

[milksteak]

yes, these are the ones we learned + right to refuse..

nih says right assessment is the 10th one.. assuming they mean, check for apical pulse, o2 sat, etc.

bahaa1979 said:

8 rights of medication administration!!!

the nursing 2012 drug handbook. (2012). lippincott williams & wilkins: philadelphia, pennsylvania recommended to check:

1. right patient

2. right medication

3. right dose

4. right route

5. right time

6. right reason

7. right response

8. right documentation

you can visit my blogger to see more details

nurses make a difference

http://justanurses.blogspot.com

[gamecock_24]

mixyrn 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: awesome!!

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 really like the two that you added!! i am going to have to remember those two when i start my program in january!

[karrikon]

Right Patient

Verifies two forms of identification

Right Dose

Calculates correctly

Right Time

Administered per facility policy (i.e. 1 hour before or 1 hour after)

Right Route

Chooses correct needle size, syringe. Administers via correct route.

Right Medication

Chooses the appropriate bottle or vial.

Right Documentation

Charts correctly on the provided MAR

Safe Administration

Completes three safety checks prior to medication administration.

Safe Administration

No contamination of needle, pill, liquid. Uses alcohol wipes where appropriate. Flushes IV when appropriate.

Safe Administration

Demonstrates hand washing and donning gloves where appropriate.

Disposes of waste in waste basket or sharps container. NO recapping of the dirty needle.

Safe Administration

Including medication use, classification, common side effects, toxic effects, allergic reactions, and any essential nursing judgments (i.e. Heart rate prior to giving)

[karrikon]

check doctor's order and MAR, check patient id, check medicine to confirm it to order.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

"right indication," your #8, has been on the list for a long time. nurses are held responsible for knowing if the medical plan of care is correct-- "following physician orders" is no longer an acceptable defense for a nursing error.