Never give a medication from a container that is not properly labeled or a medication that someone else has prepared. 9 Keep unit-dose packages wrapped until you are ready to give the medication so it stays labeled until it reaches the patient. If they are not, stop and clarify. Errors can be made by misreading the placement of a decimal point or by an inability to read the dosage. The unit-dose system reduces errors by eliminating the need to make dosage calculations, but it does not eliminate the need to check the medication and label carefully.
Pharmacies can make errors.
If a patient's refilled medication is a different color or shape than previous medications, check with the pharmacy. If a calculation is needed for the correct dose, ask another member of the healthcare team to check your calculation. Also, have another worker check that the dose is correct when giving high-risk drugs such as insulin or anticoagulants. Never leave a drug at a patient's bedside. Explain to patients what they are taking and why before giving it.