Medication Administration & The Rights

Verify the right patient using at least two identifiers (such as name and date of birth) matched to the MAR, never the room number alone.

Confirm the right drug, right dose, right route, and right time against the physician's order before giving anything.

Most programs add right documentation as a sixth right (Ohio's medication aide curriculum lists six: person, drug, dose, time, route, documentation); some also teach right reason and right response.

If any right cannot be verified, hold the dose and clarify with the nurse before administering.

Oral (PO) medications are swallowed; sublingual dissolves under the tongue and buccal sits between cheek and gum for rapid absorption.

Topical creams are applied to skin with gloves; transdermal patches deliver a steady dose through the skin and old patches must be removed first.

Ophthalmic drops go into the lower conjunctival sac, otic drops into the ear canal, and nasal drops into cleared nasal passages.

Rectal suppositories are inserted in the left-side (Sims') position past the internal sphincter; inhaled drugs use correct inhaler technique with breath-holding.

AC means before meals, PC means after meals, and HS means hour of sleep (bedtime).

PRN means 'as needed' and is given only when the resident meets the ordered indication and interval.

Your facility's written policy sets how early or late a scheduled dose may be given; federal nursing-home surveyors count a wrong-time error when a dose is given 60 or more minutes early or late and the timing could harm the resident (CMS State Operations Manual, Appendix PP).

The MAR is a legal record; document each medication immediately after the resident actually takes it, never before.

Never erase or falsify entries; correct errors according to facility policy so the record stays accurate.

For PRN drugs, record the reason, the time given, and the resident's response.

Respect a resident's right to refuse, document the refusal, and notify the nurse.

If an error occurs, check the resident's safety first, notify the nurse immediately, and complete an honest incident report.

Never re-give a dose that may already have been given or transfer medications between residents without verification.