What should you do if a medication label is unreadable or damaged?

What should you do if a medication label is unreadable or damaged?

• A. Do not administer; obtain a replacement bottle; verify with pharmacist or prescriber.
• B. Administer anyway and diagnose later.
• C. Use guesswork to identify the medication.
• D. Ask the patient to help identify the medication.

Answer: (A)

When a medication label is unreadable or damaged, the priority is patient safety: you cannot confidently identify the drug, dose, or intended use. The correct action is to stop, do not administer, and obtain a replacement bottle with a proper label. Then verify all details—drug name, dose, route, and frequency—against the order and MAR, in consultation with the pharmacist or prescriber. Only after this verification should you proceed with administration. Relying on guesswork, administering without confirmation, or asking the patient to identify the medication are unsafe and can lead to dangerous drug errors.

When a medication label is unreadable or damaged, the priority is patient safety: you cannot confidently identify the drug, dose, or intended use. The correct action is to stop, do not administer, and obtain a replacement bottle with a proper label. Then verify all details—drug name, dose, route, and frequency—against the order and MAR, in consultation with the pharmacist or prescriber. Only after this verification should you proceed with administration.

Relying on guesswork, administering without confirmation, or asking the patient to identify the medication are unsafe and can lead to dangerous drug errors.