According to patient safety guidelines, what is the minimum number of identifiers a nurse must use before administering medication?

1. A

   One

2. B

   Two

3. C

   Three

4. D

   Four

Appeared in: NORCET 1 - 2020

Explanation

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• Patient safety guidelines from major regulatory bodies like The Joint Commission (TJC) mandate using a minimum of two patient identifiers.
• This practice is a critical step in preventing medication errors, wrong-site procedures, and other adverse events.
• The goal is to ensure the correct patient receives the correct treatment every time.
• Acceptable identifiers include the patient's name, date of birth, or medical record number.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: Using only one identifier is insufficient and significantly increases the risk of patient misidentification and subsequent medical errors.
• Option C: While using three identifiers is not wrong, the question asks for the minimum required number according to universal safety standards, which is two.
• Option D: This exceeds the minimum standard requirement. It is not the baseline expectation for every medication pass and is not the universal guideline.

Related Visual

• Visual 1: Infographic: A visual guide showing a nurse scanning a patient's wristband and comparing it to the information on an electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) screen.
• Visual 2: Flowchart: A step-by-step diagram of the patient identification process, from checking the order to scanning the wristband and asking the patient to state their name and date of birth.

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Safe nursing care depends on performing Patient Safety and Medication Administration in the correct sequence, documenting the action clearly, and monitoring for the expected response.
• Adhering to the two-identifier rule is a cornerstone of safe nursing practice and a National Patient Safety Goal, directly preventing medication errors that can cause significant patient harm.
• Failure to use two identifiers is a common root cause of sentinel events and can lead to serious legal and professional consequences for the nurse.
• What if? If the patient is a newborn or is non-verbal/unconscious, the two identifiers (e.g., name and MRN on the ID band) must be matched between the patient's band and the MAR. A second nurse verification may be required by policy for high-alert medications.

How to Approach the Question

• Identify the keywords in the question: 'minimum number,' 'identifiers,' and 'administering medication.'
• Recognize this as a question about a fundamental patient safety standard, which is often a topic of regulatory guidelines.
• Recall the core principles of medication administration, specifically the 'Right Patient' component of the 'Five Rights'.
• The 'Right Patient' is ensured by a specific, standardized verification process.
• Eliminate 'One' as it is clearly unsafe. Differentiate between the 'minimum' standard (Two) and what might be a higher, institution-specific policy (Three or Four) to select the most accurate answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Patient Safety and Medication Administration
• Stem keywords: patient safety, identifiers, nurse, administering medication
• Lead-in keywords: minimum number

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Qjal-77MdQ9_gISdk4otOX

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