What should a nurse do before administering medication to a patient?

Before administering medication, verifying the patient's identity and checking for allergies are critical steps to ensure patient safety. This process typically involves asking the patient to state their name and date of birth, confirming it matches the medication administration record, and checking for any known allergies that might pose a risk for adverse reactions to the medication being given.

By confirming the patient's identity, the nurse reduces the chances of medication errors, which can occur if medications are given to the wrong patient. Checking for allergies helps prevent severe allergic reactions, which can be life-threatening. This step ensures that the nurse is not only adhering to protocols for safe medication administration but also promoting the well-being of the patient by minimizing the risk of harm.

While checking vital signs, assessing pain levels, and reviewing medical history are also important aspects of patient care, they do not directly impact medication safety in the same immediate way that verifying identity and checking for allergies do. These other actions might be helpful for comprehensive care but are not as directly related to the specific safety protocols required immediately before medication administration.