When should the medication label first be checked?

• A. Before reaching for the bottle
• B. After administration
• C. When reaching for the drug
• D. Before pouring

Answer: (C)

The first moment to verify a medication is when you reach for it in storage. This initial check helps catch errors early—confirm the correct drug name, dose, and that it matches the patient’s orders before you touch or prepare anything. If you wait until after you’ve poured or opened it, you’ve let a potential mistake slip through and you’ve already handled the wrong item. Checking before pouring is important, but it comes after the initial grab as part of the ongoing verification process. Checking after administration is too late to prevent an error from reaching the patient.