What are the five rights of medication administration?

The five rights of medication administration are fundamental principles that ensure safe and effective delivery of medications to patients. The correct answer identifies these five critical components as the right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, and right time.

Understanding each of these rights helps to prevent medication errors and enhance patient safety.

1. The right patient ensures that the medication is administered to the individual for whom it is intended, minimizing the risk of administering the wrong medication to an incorrect person.

2. The right medication involves verifying that the correct drug is provided for the patient's specific condition, preventing issues related to medication identity.

3. The right dose means administering the appropriate amount of the medication, which is crucial for effectiveness and to avoid overdosing or underdosing.

4. The right route assesses how the medication is taken—whether orally, topically, intravenously, etc.—as the route can affect how the drug works in the body.

5. Lastly, the right time pertains to ensuring that the medication is given at the correct schedule to maintain therapeutic levels and optimize treatment effectiveness.

Together, these five rights are essential for the safe and correct administration of medications in healthcare settings, making option B the most comprehensive and accurate choice presented. The other options do not