What information is essential to confirm with a student before giving medication?

What information is essential to confirm with a student before giving medication?

• A. The student’s mood and feelings
• B. Name, the medication being given, and the purpose of the medication
• C. The time medication is due and the student's schedule
• D. The student’s past medical history

Answer: (B)

Confirming the student's name, the medication being given, and the purpose of the medication is crucial to ensuring the safety and accuracy of medication administration. This step is vital to prevent medication errors, such as administering the wrong medication to the wrong student or providing an incorrect dosage. When verifying the student's name, it acts as a primary identifier to ensure that the right person is receiving the medication. It is equally important to know which medication is being administered, as different students may take various medications that can have different effects, purposes, and potential interactions. Understanding the purpose of the medication helps in providing context to the student and ensuring adherence to their treatment plan. Additionally, while confirming the time the medication is due and the student’s schedule is important for timing and logistical reasons, it does not address the critical need for accuracy in identification and appropriateness of the medication itself. Similarly, knowing the student's mood or feelings or their past medical history, while relevant in broader healthcare contexts, does not directly confirm the immediate and essential details required for safe medication administration.

Confirming the student's name, the medication being given, and the purpose of the medication is crucial to ensuring the safety and accuracy of medication administration. This step is vital to prevent medication errors, such as administering the wrong medication to the wrong student or providing an incorrect dosage.

When verifying the student's name, it acts as a primary identifier to ensure that the right person is receiving the medication. It is equally important to know which medication is being administered, as different students may take various medications that can have different effects, purposes, and potential interactions. Understanding the purpose of the medication helps in providing context to the student and ensuring adherence to their treatment plan.

Additionally, while confirming the time the medication is due and the student’s schedule is important for timing and logistical reasons, it does not address the critical need for accuracy in identification and appropriateness of the medication itself. Similarly, knowing the student's mood or feelings or their past medical history, while relevant in broader healthcare contexts, does not directly confirm the immediate and essential details required for safe medication administration.