Which example demonstrates the five rights in action?

Which example demonstrates the five rights in action?

• A. Giving acetaminophen 500 mg PO at 0800 after confirming patient identity
• B. Giving acetaminophen 500 mg PO at 1200 without confirming identity
• C. Giving acetaminophen 650 mg IV without checking allergies
• D. Administering at random times

Answer: (A)

The five rights of medication administration are right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time. The example given—administering acetaminophen 500 mg by mouth at 0800 after confirming the patient’s identity—fits all five: the patient is verified, the drug is acetaminophen, the dose is 500 mg, the route is oral, and the timing is 0800. This shows complete adherence to safe medication practice. The other scenarios miss at least one right: not confirming identity breaks the right patient; giving the drug intravenously without checking allergies breaks the right route and neglects an important safety check; administering at random times violates the right time.

The five rights of medication administration are right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time. The example given—administering acetaminophen 500 mg by mouth at 0800 after confirming the patient’s identity—fits all five: the patient is verified, the drug is acetaminophen, the dose is 500 mg, the route is oral, and the timing is 0800. This shows complete adherence to safe medication practice.

The other scenarios miss at least one right: not confirming identity breaks the right patient; giving the drug intravenously without checking allergies breaks the right route and neglects an important safety check; administering at random times violates the right time.