Which of the following is an example of a safety barrier in medication administration?

• A. A double-check by another clinician
• B. Relying on memory for doses
• C. Skipping verification steps
• D. Administering without an order

Answer: (A)

Safety barriers are checks built into medication delivery to catch mistakes before they reach the patient. A double-check by another clinician is a prime example because it provides an independent verification of the essential elements—patient, drug, dose, route, and time—against the order and MAR. This extra set of eyes helps catch errors that one person might miss, such as confusing look-alike drug names, incorrect dosages, or label mix-ups, and is especially important for high‑risk medications.

Relying on memory for doses leaves too much room for human error, since recalls can be inaccurate. Skipping verification steps removes safeguards that prevent misdosing or wrong-patient scenarios. Administering without an order bypasses required authorization and is unsafe and noncompliant. When used correctly, a second clinician’s check strengthens safety by adding independent confirmation before administration.