The document discusses medication safety and the national patient safety goal of reducing medication errors. It notes that medication errors cause 7,000 deaths per year. While medication safety used to focus on the "5 Rights," there are now reportedly 8-10 rights that should be followed to ensure proper medication administration. These rights include confirming the right patient, medication, dose, route, time, documentation, reason, and response. The document provides details on following each of these rights to help prevent medication errors.

1. Good Shepherd Health Care System
Lesli Scharbrough, RN, MSN

2.  2013 CAH National Patient Safety Goal #3 is
Medication Safety
 More of a focus now than ever before
 7,000 deaths each year related to medication errors
 Focus on system not individuals
 Used to be “5 Rights” now up to 8 and some reports
show 10 Rights that should be observed

3.  1. Right Patient
 2. Right Medication
 3. Right Dose
 4. Right Route
 5. Right time
 6. Right Documentation
 7. Right Reason
 8. Right Response

4.  Check name on order & the patient
 Use 2 identifiers
 Ask patient to ID him/herself
 When available, use technology

5.  Check the medication label
 Check the order

6.  Check the order
 Confirm appropriateness
 If necessary, calculate the dose
 Have another nurse calculate as well

7.  Again, check appropriateness of route ordered
 Confirm that pt. can have a medication by this route

8.  Check the frequency of the medication
 Double check that you are giving the ordered med at
the correct time
 Confirm time of last dose

9.  Document AFTER giving the medication
 Chart time, route, and any other specific information
 EG: site of an injection or
 Lab value or vital sign needed before administration

10.  Confirm the rationale for the medication
 History
 Why is patient taking this medication
 Revisit the reasons for long-term medication use

11.  Make sure that the desired effect is achieved
 If antihypertensive given did BP improve?
 Document the monitoring and any other interventions