Which step best ensures you are giving furosemide to the correct patient?

Which step best ensures you are giving furosemide to the correct patient?

• A. Ask the guardian to verify the child's name
• B. Verify the nurse's own name
• C. Check the medication label only
• D. Compare to the chart only

Answer: (A)

Verifying the patient’s identity before giving a medication is essential for safety, especially in pediatrics. Asking the guardian to confirm the child’s name provides a direct, reliable check that the medication is being given to the correct child in front of you. This step helps catch mix-ups when two children share similar names or when the child can’t clearly communicate their name themselves. Relying only on the medication label or on the chart without confirming the patient in front of you can miss a mix-up, and verifying the nurse’s own name has no bearing on ensuring the right patient receives the drug.

Verifying the patient’s identity before giving a medication is essential for safety, especially in pediatrics. Asking the guardian to confirm the child’s name provides a direct, reliable check that the medication is being given to the correct child in front of you. This step helps catch mix-ups when two children share similar names or when the child can’t clearly communicate their name themselves. Relying only on the medication label or on the chart without confirming the patient in front of you can miss a mix-up, and verifying the nurse’s own name has no bearing on ensuring the right patient receives the drug.