What practice is essential to ensure safe medication administration at shift start?

• A. Verify patient identity before administration.
• B. Rely on memory for doses.
• C. Skip checks for high-risk medications.
• D. Administer meds as quickly as possible.

Answer: (A)

Verifying the patient’s identity before giving any medication is the key step to ensure the right patient receives the right drug at the start of a shift. By confirming two identifiers—usually the patient’s name and date of birth—with the MAR or electronic health record and the medication label, you align the order with the correct person and reduce the risk of medication errors that can occur during handoffs or busy moments. This practice is safer than relying on memory or assumptions, and it applies even if you’re in a hurry or dealing with high‑risk medications, where accuracy matters even more. If there’s any doubt about identity—for example, a missing wristband or a name that’s similar to another patient—follow your facility’s protocol to verify identity before administration.