The six rights of medication administration

The six rights of medication administration are the right medication, the right dose, the right patient, the right route, the right time and the right documentation. I plan to implement all of these patient medication administration rights when I progress to working in the field. There are several parts of the medication administration process where errors can occur. Most commonly errors occur in prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, administering and monitoring medications. The nurse is the last line of defense for the patient and therefore it is the nurses responsibility to check and re-check all elements to the medication administration process and to question or correct and mistakes that have been made down the line.
I will incorporate the right medication, by checking and double checking labels and orders and making sure that the right medication is given to the right patient. I will also compare the prescriber’s orders with the medication administration record when it is first ordered. Then when preparing the medication I will compare the label of the medication with the medication administration record three different times; first before removing the container, second as the medication is being removed from the container and lastly at the bedside of the patient before administering the medication. There are many drugs that are spelled almost the same, but this does not mean that they are the same drug or that they are interchangeable. (Patricia A. Potter, 2013)
I would also be sure to have the right dose to prevent over or under dosing. I would use measuring devices and conversions to calculate the correct dose and be sure to know which drugs can and cannot be crushed such as extended release tablets or specially coated tabs. An error in dosing can cost a nurse their license and potentially a patient's life. I will make sure I am able to calculate the medication doses and know how to calculate drug doses by weight. I will also research the drug before