Which safe practice should be followed when administering medications?

The chosen answer emphasizes the importance of accurately verifying medication details every time a medication is administered. This practice is critical in ensuring patient safety and minimizing errors. Each time a medication is given, reading the label and the medication administration record (MAR) ensures that the correct medication, dosage, route, and timing are adhered to consistently.

Medications may come from different sources, and labels can vary, so performing this verification each time helps reduce the risk of giving the wrong drug or incorrect dosage. Additionally, it reinforces the need for attention to detail and careful adherence to protocols that protect the patient. This approach promotes a systematic method of checking the medication against the MAR, thereby ensuring a double-check on the information, which is essential in a healthcare environment where errors can have serious consequences.

In contrast, other options may lead to potentially unsafe practices. For instance, reading the label and MAR just once does not provide the necessary verification at each administration, increasing the risk of mistakes. Solely referring to the MAR eliminates the crucial step of checking the actual medication against its label. Relying only on verbal orders from a doctor can lead to misinterpretation or omission of important information unless those orders are carefully documented and verified. Therefore, consistently reading both the label