If a patient questions a prescribed medication, what should the nurse do?

• A. Administer the medication as ordered
• B. Notify the physician and hold the medication
• C. Re-check using the six rights of medication administration
• D. Document and then administer

Answer: (C)

When a patient questions a prescribed medication, safety hinges on re-checking the order with the six rights of medication administration. This means confirming the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, the right time, and the right documentation. Start by identifying the patient and verifying their identity, then verify the exact medication name and dose against the order and the MAR, confirm the route and the scheduled time, and ensure any documentation will reflect what you do. Use this moment to ask the patient about the concern, check for allergies or potential interactions, and look for any discrepancies in the order. If anything doesn’t align, contact the prescriber to clarify before giving the medication. Only after confirmation should you proceed with administration.

Administering the medication as ordered without verifying the details can expose the patient to harm. Holding and notifying the physician may be necessary if a concern remains after verification, but verification first ensures you’re acting on accurate information. Documenting before administration isn’t appropriate, since you should verify and then record what you did.