This document discusses guidelines for proper patient identification. It emphasizes correctly identifying the patient before any procedures by checking multiple identifiers like name, date of birth, medical record number, etc. It provides dos and don'ts for staff, such as double checking identifiers on forms and samples, not taking multiple tasks at once that could mix patients up, and ensuring wristbands are legible and match the patient's file. Proper identification is crucial to avoid medication errors, transfusions for the wrong person, testing the wrong sample, and performing procedures on the wrong patient.

1. Patient identification
RAHIMA M. SALENDAB, BSN,RN
NQMC

2. 1.IDENTIFY PATIENT CORRECTLY
2.IMPROVE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
3.IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF HIGH ALERT
MEDICATION
4.ENSURE CORRECT – SITE, CORRECT – PROCEDURE,
CORRECT – PATIENT SURGERY
5.REDUCE THE RISK OF HEALTH CARE ASSOSIATED
INFECTION
6.REDUCE THE RISK OF PATIENT HARM RESULTING
FROM FALLS
*

3. PRINCIPLE
 To ensure the correct identity of the patient at all
times and before undergoing procedures
 to provide accurate identification of patients
thereby minimizing related clinical error and
patient harm.

4. NAME (GIVEN NAME,FATHER’S NAME, GRAND FATHER’S
NAME, & FAMILY NAME)
ASSIGNED IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
TELEPHONE NUMBER
DATE OF BIRTH
ADDRESS
MEDICAL RECORD NUMBER / CHARD NUMBER
*(PATIENT’S ROOM CANNOT BE USED AS AN
IDENTIFIER)

5. Patient identification must be confirmed
prior to conducting the following
procedures:
 Administration of medicines
 Transfusion of blood and blood products
 Obtaining blood and other specimens
 Performing a diagnostic test
 Prior to transferring/discharging a patient
 Prior to carrying out any invasive procedures such as
urethral catheterization, inserting a nasogastric tube, etc.
 Giving results of diagnostic tests.

6. DO’S ON PATIENT IDENTIFICATION
Do identify the patient correctly on admission.
Do ensure that you have the full forename of the patient.
Do check again with the patient that all the details are correct, when you place an
identity bracelet on.
Do regularly check the legibility of ID wristbands. Replace any ID wristbands which
become illegible.
Do always check the details of patients even if you think you know them well.
Someone may just have placed the wrong medication chart at the foot of the bed.
Do double check verbally and physically that the details of a patient
matches the details on a fully completed request form, especially if
another member of the healthcare team has completed the form.
Do label samples taken from the patient straight away. The safest way
is to label the bottles after the sample has been taken and before
leaving the patient’s bedside.

7. DO NOT’S ON PATIENT IDENTIFICATION
 Do not read the patients details to them and allow them to passively agree with
you. Ask the patient to give you their full detail
 Do not accept a patient’s pointing to the name board above their bed as a signal
that it is correct for that patient. Speak to the patient and check.
 Do not take bloods from a patient without checking the patients details against a
fully completed request form.
 Do not label a sample bottle before you take blood. You may get distracted
before you have completed the task.
 Do not perform two tasks at the same time e.g. taking bloods from several
patients and labeling them afterwards or filling out requests forms for several
patients at the same time
 Do not perform tasks remotely from the patient if at all possible. Try to fill out
request forms and complete tasks at the patients’ bedside

8. Staff responsibilities
It is the responsibility of every registered nurse,
support worker, or other member of staff who
has been given responsibility to admit a patient,
to check and ensure that:
 Patient is wearing correct patient identification bands
 a bracelet stating patient’s name, date of birth, hospital number/chart No.
and ward is attached to an appropriate limb
 The information on the patient’s wristband must correspond with the
information in the patient’s chart.

9. *
MEDICATION ERROR
TRANSFUSION ERROR
TESTING ERROR
WRONG PERSON PROCEDURE