Before giving any medication, what two identifiers should you verify with the resident?

• A. Name and date of birth
• B. Address and phone number
• C. Allergies and diet
• D. Room number and physician

Answer: (B)

Verifying before giving medication is about making sure you’re treating the right person. The two identifiers to confirm with the resident are their full name and date of birth. Have the resident state or spell these and then cross-check with the medication administration record or the resident’s chart. This pairing is reliable because the combination is typically unique to the individual in the care setting, helping to prevent mix-ups.

Addresses or phone numbers aren’t dependable identifiers—they can be shared, outdated, or unknown, so they don’t reliably confirm who the resident is. Allergies and diet are important safety information for how you administer meds, but they don’t verify patient identity. Room number and physician can change or be misapplied, making them poor identifiers as well. Do the check at the bedside and document that you verified the resident’s identity.