Which combination of identifiers is considered appropriate for confirming patient identity with the medication administration record?

Which combination of identifiers is considered appropriate for confirming patient identity with the medication administration record?

• A. Room number and bed
• B. Last four digits of SSN with MAR
• C. Full name and date of birth with MAR
• D. Patient's nickname and MAR

Answer: (C)

Verifying patient identity before giving medications relies on using two reliable identifiers. A patient’s full name and date of birth are distinct, stable details that uniquely identify most individuals. When you compare these identifiers with what’s listed on the medication administration record, you can confirm that the order belongs to the correct patient, helping prevent med errors. Other identifiers are not as dependable. Room number and bed can change or be shared among patients, so they don’t reliably prove who the patient is. The last four digits of a social security number raise privacy concerns and aren’t consistently used as standard identifiers in many settings. A nickname can vary or be confused with another person’s name, making it an inconsistent identifier.

Verifying patient identity before giving medications relies on using two reliable identifiers. A patient’s full name and date of birth are distinct, stable details that uniquely identify most individuals. When you compare these identifiers with what’s listed on the medication administration record, you can confirm that the order belongs to the correct patient, helping prevent med errors.

Other identifiers are not as dependable. Room number and bed can change or be shared among patients, so they don’t reliably prove who the patient is. The last four digits of a social security number raise privacy concerns and aren’t consistently used as standard identifiers in many settings. A nickname can vary or be confused with another person’s name, making it an inconsistent identifier.