What are the 7 rights for Safe medication Administration?

Medication administration is a process that carries great responsibility in requiring that you know which medication is supposed to be given, as well as to whom, and when.  Remembering the various information that you need to keep track of can be overwhelming, but it is vital that you are aware of them.  We highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the seven rights of medication administration in order to protect both your patients and yourself.

Right Individual

Making sure that you have the right individual is obviously a very important step in medication administration.  The standard is to check with at least two other sources that you have the correct person before administering medication.  The most experienced of nurses can make a  mistake if tired, overworked, or managing several patients at once.  Despite your level of experience, you should always verify that you are giving the right person the right medication.

Right Medication

It goes without saying that ensuring that you have the right medication is paramount for a variety of reasons. Different patients can have different medical allergies, adverse reactions, and unexpected symptoms that could lead to catastrophic results.  Read the label of the medication, triple-check the patient’s charts, and make sure you are administering the correct medication for that patient.

Right Dose

The right dose is incredibly important as well, as the wrong dose could lead to overdosing a patient and possibly harming them.  The patient’s correct dose should be noted in their chart, and you should also know the form in which they should be receiving medication.  Are they taking pills, receiving medications through IV, or swallowing liquids?  These methods all require various doses. 

Right Time

Many medications have a specific time that they need to be administered, either due to the patient’s other medications or around their meals.  Not all medications require a specific time, but it is your responsibility to know which ones do and don’t.  Every time that medication is given to a patient, it should be recorded so that anyone treating them is aware of when medication was last administered. 

Right Route

“Route” in this case refers to where and how the medication is given to a patient.  While most medications are taken orally, this is not always the case.  The notes surrounding the way that medications should be administered are important to keep communication clear as nurse shifts change or others administer medication.  Medication can be given in several ways including rectally, vaginally, through the skin, in the eyes, in the ears, into the lungs, etc.  This leaves a lot of room for error if not correctly communicated. 

Right Documentation

It is the sole responsibility of the person administering the medication to properly document that administration.  Without proper documentation, communication can get lost between medical professionals.  Always double-check your documentation and make sure that all details are present and correct.

Right Response

Last, but certainly not least, is the response that the patient has to the medication administered.  Anytime that a patient is given medication, their response should be recorded to make sure that it is known to all treating the patient.  Additionally, the level to which the medication helps the patient should be recorded to keep track of what medication is working and what isn’t.  

School-Age Healthy Environments Lesson 7 Learn 7 Rights of Medication Administration Guide

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Any teachers administering the medication should check the medication against the signed form to ensure that the name of the medication on the bottle or package matches that exactly on the signed form. Each time the medication is administered, this should be checked. The medication should be kept in its original container. During certain seasons of the year when multiple children need medication or if your program has several children enrolled who need medication support (such as for diabetes, asthma, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), the risk increases for improper medication administration. Forms and medication need to be checked to ensure that the right child is receiving the medication. Confirmation needs to be made that the right dose has been measured. An excellent way to ensure this is to use the medication spoon dispensed with the medication by the pharmacy. Medication administration is not the place for guesswork. Any questions should be referred back to the family for clarification. Timing of the medication should be clearly written on the medication itself and on the signed form. Additionally, teachers need to confirm with families when the child arrives as to when the last dose of medication was administered andwhen the next one is due. This information should be documented, for example, on the child’s daily sheet or a medication administration form. Work with your coach, or licensing agency to ensure that you have the proper documentation required by your Service or state. Likewise, when the child is picked up by the family, the teacher should provide written documentation of medication administration. Medication can be delivered in a number of ways; usually the medication to be delivered by teachers is through oral dispensing or through an inhaler. Confirmation of method should be written on the medication itself as well as on the signed form. Each time medication is given, the person administering it should make sure that the medication is being given for the right reason (e.g., Tylenol for teething pain, breathing treatment for asthma attack). Consulting the health-care plan or inclusion support plans for the appropriate symptoms can help ensure that the medication is given for the correct reasons. Each administration of medication should be recorded. The teacher who gave the medication should document the administration immediately each and every time after he or she has provided a dose (after washing his or her hands). This is a critical step. Without proper documentation, another adult or the child’s family member may not appropriately provide the next dose of medication, which could have serious health implications for the child. Adapted from American Academy of Pediatrics’ Medication Administration Curriculum