What is an important step before giving medication to a patient?

Verifying the patient's identity and medication details is a critical step before administering medication. This process ensures that the right patient receives the correct medication at the appropriate dosage and time, fundamentally safeguarding patient safety. It typically involves checking the patient's identification wristband and cross-referencing it with the medication administration record (MAR) to confirm both the patient's name and the prescribed medication.

This step is crucial in preventing medication errors, which can lead to serious health complications or adverse reactions. By thoroughly verifying these details, healthcare providers minimize the risk of errors that could arise from patient confusion or miscommunication.

Other options such as asking about a patient's favorite food or discussing personal issues, while they may contribute to building rapport, do not address the fundamental requirement of ensuring that the patient receives the right medication safely. Checking the medication for color and shape alone is inadequate, as it does not confirm the correct patient or dosage and fails to encompass the full verification process necessary for safe medication administration.