Which elements comprise the standard six rights of medication administration?

• A. Right prescriber, right pharmacy, right label, right dose, right form.
• B. Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation.
• C. Right indication, right frequency, right route, right cost.
• D. Right patient, right allergy check, right container, right expiry, right route, right time.

Answer: (B)

The six rights of medication administration are about verifying key elements to prevent errors: right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation. Before giving a medication, you confirm the patient’s identity so you’re treating the correct person. You verify the exact drug and its formulation matches what’s prescribed. You check the dose to ensure you’re giving the correct amount for that patient. You confirm the route is the one ordered (oral, IV, etc.). You administer at the correct time or within the designated window. Finally, you document the administration immediately so the chart reflects what was given and others know the medication has been completed.

Why this set fits best: each element targets a core point of potential error in the medication-use process and together they cover the essential workflow from order to record.

Other options mix in elements that aren’t part of the standard six. For example, prescriber, pharmacy, or label concerns are important safety steps but aren’t counted among the six rights; things like allergy checks and expiry dates are safety checks too, but they aren’t one of the six rights themselves.