Which statement lists the five rights of medication administration?

• A. Right patient, right time, right medication, right dose, right expiration
• B. Right patient, right time, right medication, right dose, right documentation
• C. Right patient, right time, right medication, right dose, right route
• D. Right patient, right time, right medication, right dose, right language

Answer: (C)

You're being tested on the five rights of medication administration. These are: right patient, right time, right medication (drug), right dose, and right route. Following these steps helps ensure the person getting the medicine is the correct patient, the drug is given at the proper moment, the correct drug is used, the dose is appropriate, and it’s delivered by the appropriate route. Expiration dates and documentation are important safety checks, but they aren’t part of the five foundational rights themselves. Documentation matters for the record and continuity of care, while checking expiration helps avoid giving spoiled or unsafe meds, but the standard five rights focus on the patient, timing, drug, dose, and method of administration.