Name the five rights of medication administration.

• A. Right patient, right drug, right dose, right time, right route
• B. Right patient, wrong drug, right dose, right route, right time
• C. Right patient, right drug, wrong dose, right route, right time
• D. Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right timing

Answer: (A)

These five elements form a safety checklist used before giving any medication. The right patient means confirming the person who should receive the drug, so you verify identity. The right drug means checking that the medication itself matches the order and label, preventing substitution or mix-ups. The right dose ensures the exact amount prescribed is prepared and administered, avoiding underdosing or overdosing. The right time means administering at the prescribed time or interval, preserving effectiveness and safety. The right route means delivering the medication by the correct method (oral, IV, IM, etc.), since changing the route can alter absorption and risk. When a choice includes any deviation—such as a different drug, an incorrect dose, a timing error, or an incorrect route—it doesn’t reflect these standard five rights. The set described here matches these five rights precisely, making it the best answer.