Which statement correctly lists all six rights of medication administration?

• A. Right patient, right time, and right documentation
• B. Right patient, right drug, right route, right time
• C. Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right documentation
• D. Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation

Answer: (D)

The essential idea here is that safe medication administration relies on checking six things before giving a drug. The statement that includes right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation covers every required safety check. Verifying the patient’s identity ensures you’re treating the correct person. Confirming the correct drug prevents giving the wrong medication. Checking the dose avoids under- or overdosing. Verifying the route ensures the drug is delivered to the correct body site and via the intended method. Administering at the right time preserves therapeutic effectiveness and consistency. Documenting what was given, when, and by whom creates a medical record for ongoing care and a safety trail for accountability and communication.

Other statements miss one or more of these elements, which is why they’re less safe. If any one right is left out, you could give the wrong drug or dose, or fail to administer at the proper time, or omit documentation, all of which can lead to patient harm or miscommunication.