The most frightening aspect of my nursing training was when we began passing medications to the hospital patients we were caring for. Although always done under the discerning eye of an experienced nursing instructor or licensed nurse, it was something that none of us took lightly, even the most confident.

One thing that was constantly drilled into our heads when it came to passing medications, was the five rights of medication safety. With deaths at home from medication-related errors on the rise, it is important that every caregiver who passes home medications learn the same five rights of medication safety that nurses have been taught.

1. The Right Patient

If you are taking care of Uncle Joe or Aunt Sally, you certainly know who they are and what they look like. But, when outside help comes into the home, an entirely different scenario takes place. Here we have an initial stranger who may have just left the home of another patient. Always, upon entering the room of any patient to pass medications, confirm the name of the patient with the patient themselves, or with a close family member.

2. The Right Medication

Chances are, if you are caring for a patient who lives with friends or family members, there may be multiple medication bottles lurking in the medicine cabinet. Make sure that the medication you are giving is the medication that the doctor has ordered for the specific patient you are caring for. Also, some medications have more than one name. If you are supposed to be administering Pepcid and have a bottle of Famotidine in your hand, you had better make sure that they are in and of the same. If you are not, call the doctor’s office, pharmacy or look it up in a drug reference guide.

3. The Right Dose

Giving the right dose of the medication ordered is important for obvious reasons. For example, too much blood pressure medicine can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure, while too little can cause the blood pressure to sky-rocket. Make sure that you are giving the exact same dose that is written on the prescription bottle. If there is ever a question, clarify with a doctor or pharmacist.

4. The Right Time

Some medications are ordered on a once daily basis. These are normally given in the morning, but this is not always the case. Cholesterol medication is one example of this. It is a daily medication, but is usually given at bedtime. Other medications may be given twice a day, three or even four times a day. Make sure you read the prescription label and give the medication at the correct time, and as many times as it is ordered for that particular day.

5. The Right Route

You would not want to give a Tylenol suppository by mouth, would you? Verifying the right route tells you how the patient should, or shouldn’t, take the ordered medication. For example, if giving an injection, is it intramuscular (in the muscle), or subcutaneous (in the fatty layer of the skin)? If it is a pill, can the pill be crushed, or will crushing it make it lose its effectiveness? If you aren’t sure, don’t guess - call the doctor or pharmacist for help.

Medication errors are usually the result of carelessness - something that can be avoided by practicing the five rights of medication safety each and every time you give medication.

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