Final answer:
In medication administration, drugs should be given after preparations and upon reviewing the physician's orders, not before identifying the drug and required dosage or in disregard of the orders. Reviewing the physician's order is a key step prior to administering the medication to ensure accurate and safe delivery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Drugs should be administered after preparations have been completed and not before verifying the drug and required dosage. It's imperative to administer drugs as per the physician's orders, and not regardless of them. Administering medication should not include an arbitrary delay such as 30 minutes unless specifically instructed by the physician's orders or pharmacokinetic considerations.
The key step before administering medication, according to the statements, is reviewing the physician's order. This is crucial for ensuring the correct medication, dose, and route are used and that the timing of administration is appropriate. It comes before identifying the resident, administering as ordered, or administering immediately after preparation.
Patient's mass, metabolism and excretion rates, half-life of the drug, drug potential for serious side effects, and whether the drug is dose- or time-dependent are all critical factors in determining the appropriate dosage and frequency of drug administration.