During a medication administration round, what should the practical nurse (PN) confirm before giving medication to the client?

Before administering medication, it is essential for the practical nurse (PN) to confirm the correct medication dosage and administration route. This step is crucial in ensuring patient safety and preventing medication errors. By verifying the dosage, the nurse ensures that the client receives the appropriate amount of medication, which is vital for the effectiveness of the treatment while minimizing the risk of potential side effects or toxicities.

Additionally, confirming the administration route is important because different routes (such as oral, intravenous, or intramuscular) can affect how the medication is absorbed and utilized by the body. Administering a medication via the wrong route can lead to ineffective treatment, adverse reactions, or other complications. Therefore, this confirms the PN's responsibility to adhere to the "Five Rights" of medication administration, which include the right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, and right time.

While considerations such as the client’s readiness to receive medication and the timing of medication can be important in the broader context of medication administration, they do not outweigh the fundamental requirement of confirming the correct medication and dosage, which directly impacts patient safety. Employment history is generally irrelevant to medication administration and does not aid in ensuring proper care in this scenario.