Before giving any medication, which two identifiers should you verify against the MAR/order?

Before giving any medication, which two identifiers should you verify against the MAR/order?

• A. Room number and bed
• B. Prescriber name and license number
• C. Medication name and dose
• D. Patient name and date of birth

Answer: (D)

Before giving any medication, you must verify the patient’s identity using two identifiers. The most reliable pair is the patient’s full name and date of birth, checked against the MAR or order. This protects the patient from receiving the wrong drug or dose and ensures the medication is linked to the correct chart. Room number and bed aren’t dependable identifiers because patients can be moved or placed in shared rooms. The prescriber’s name and license number tell you who ordered the medication, not who is receiving it. The medication name and dose describe the drug itself, not the patient’s identity. If you can’t confirm identity, follow your facility’s policy to verify the patient before proceeding.

Before giving any medication, you must verify the patient’s identity using two identifiers. The most reliable pair is the patient’s full name and date of birth, checked against the MAR or order. This protects the patient from receiving the wrong drug or dose and ensures the medication is linked to the correct chart.

Room number and bed aren’t dependable identifiers because patients can be moved or placed in shared rooms. The prescriber’s name and license number tell you who ordered the medication, not who is receiving it. The medication name and dose describe the drug itself, not the patient’s identity. If you can’t confirm identity, follow your facility’s policy to verify the patient before proceeding.