What should you check for when scanning a medication?

When scanning a medication, it is crucial to verify the right dose, route, and time to ensure patient safety and effective treatment. This step is integral in the five rights of medication administration, which include the right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, and right time. Confirming these factors helps prevent medication errors and adverse drug reactions, which can occur if a patient receives an incorrect dosage or if the medication is administered through an improper route at the wrong time.

While checking patient allergies, patient identification, and previous medication history are all important components of medication administration, they serve different purposes. Patient allergies are critical to prevent allergic reactions, and correct patient identification helps ensure that the medication reaches the right individual. Previous medication history provides context regarding the patient's past treatments and potential drug interactions. However, the specific verification of the right dose, route, and time directly impacts the immediate safety and effectiveness of the medication being administered, making it the primary focus during medication scanning.