Home / Healthcare & Medicine / Care / Medicine Administration for Carers / A quick summary of the 6 R’s of safe medication administration
A quick summary of the 6 R’s of safe medication administration
Watch this video which describes the 6 rights of safe medication administration in summary form.
6 Rs of Safe Medicine Administration 1. Right Resident Medicines should only be administered to the person to whom they have been prescribed.
Confirm the identity of the resident to whom the medicine is being administered.
The name on the label and the MAR should match that given to you by the patient.
Right Medication Check the name of the medicine is the same on label and on the MAR.
A description of the medicine should be included in the patient information leaflet.
Right Dose The dose will be on the MAR and the medicines label.
Ensure you measure the correct dose before administration to the resident.
Right Route Some medicines can be administered via multiple routes, so ensure you are administering via the right route.
Medicines can be administered systematically or topically.
Systematic administration: Medicine enters into the circulation and entire body is affected, e.g. oral administration of tablets or liquids.
Topical administration: Applied to body surfaces, e.g. skin, lungs, eye.
Right Time Does the medicine have to be taken before or after food?
Is it a medicine that has to be given regularly, or just when it is needed by the resident?
Resident’s Right to Refuse Residents need to consent to take their medicines.
Refer patients to GP who you feel the lack of capacity to consent.
Other Rs to Consider Right Record Medicines administration records are the formal record of administration of medicine within the care setting.
They should document:
What is recieved. What is currently prescribed (including those self-administered medicines).
What is given by care workers. What is disposed of.
Right Result After administering the medicine, watch for any adverse reactions!
Well done on getting this far in the course!
Over the last three weeks we have discovered the different elements of safe medicine administration. This video will bring them all together in a summary.
The last step of the course is a final assessment. Click on the ‘Final Assessment’ link below for the rules and grading. Good luck!
Reach your personal and professional goals
Unlock access to hundreds of expert online courses and degrees from top universities and educators to gain accredited qualifications and professional CV-building certificates.
Join over 18 million learners to launch, switch or build upon your career, all at your own pace, across a wide range of topic areas.
