What should you do if unsure about administering a medication?

• A. Administer the dose as prescribed
• B. Ignore the doubt and proceed
• C. Consult the care team
• D. Document and move to next patient

Answer: (C)

When you’re unsure about administering a medication, safety means pausing to verify with the care team. Consulting the team helps confirm the correct drug, dose, route, and timing, and it brings in the patient’s current information—such as allergies, other medications, and recent changes in condition—that could affect the decision. In practice, you would review the order and the patient’s MAR/eMAR, verify the patient’s identity, and check the drug name, dose, and route. If there’s any doubt or ambiguity, involve a nurse in charge or a pharmacist for a second check before proceeding. Only after clear confirmation should you administer. This approach avoids risky errors that can occur from guessing or rushing, and you should document the concern and the steps taken after the clarification.