Question

You have been assigned to be the medication nurse in a long-term care facility to a group of 20 residents, of which 7 are there for short-term rehabilitation after total hip replacement. It is the first time you have worked with this group and therefore are unfamiliar with their medication routines and preferences.

Describe the "Rights of Medication" and the "Three Checks." How do these facilitate a culture of safety in medication administration?

Answer 1

The 'Rights of Medication' and the 'Three Checks' are principles and verification steps that promote safe medication administration in healthcare facilities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The 'Rights of Medication' refers to a set of principles that ensure safe medication administration. These rights include the right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation. The 'Three Checks' are a series of verification steps taken before administering medication, which include checking the medication label, checking the medication against the doctor's order, and checking the medication again before administering it to the patient. These practices facilitate a culture of safety in medication administration by minimizing medication errors and ensuring that the right medication is given to the right patient in the right way and at the right time.