What should a medical assistant do before administering medication to ensure patient safety?

Verifying the patient's identification and the medication details is essential for ensuring patient safety before administering any medication. This process, often referred to as medication reconciliation or the “five rights” of medication administration (right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, and right time), helps to prevent medication errors that could have serious consequences.

By confirming the patient's identity, typically through two identifiers such as the patient's name and date of birth, the medical assistant ensures that the medication is being given to the correct individual. Additionally, checking the medication details, such as the medication name, dosage, and expiration date, ensures that the right medication and dosage are provided in accordance with the prescribed treatment. This thorough verification process is a critical safety measure that minimizes the risk of adverse drug events and enhances patient care.

While other choices may involve aspects of the medication administration process, they do not incorporate the comprehensive verification needed for optimal patient safety. For instance, checking the medication label quickly may lead to oversights, and standard dosages might not apply to every patient due to individual differences. Obtaining verbal confirmation from the patient can be helpful, but it is not a standalone verification method and might not alleviate the risk of misidentification or misadministration.