What is a recommended action when a medication is not accessible on MAR?

When a medication is not accessible on the Medication Administration Record (MAR), checking if the medication was documented is essential because it provides a clear understanding of whether the medication was simply overlooked or not entered into the system. This step ensures that important information regarding the patient's treatment plan is not missed, potentially avoiding unnecessary delays in care.

Reviewing documentation serves as a verification process to confirm that all necessary medications have been correctly logged and are accounted for. If the medication is documented, this could lead to further actions, such as locating the source of the error or exploring alternative avenues for administration.

While contacting the pharmacy, re-verifying dosage information, or looking for alternative medications are important actions, they come into play once it is confirmed that the medication is indeed missing from the documentation. Therefore, confirming its documentation is a critical first step in resolving the issue effectively.