If a medication bottle is unlabeled, what should you do?

• A. Do not administer; label per policy; notify a nurse for guidance.
• B. Administer after guessing.
• C. Label and administer.
• D. Discard without documentation.

Answer: (A)

Never give a medication when you cannot positively identify it. An unlabeled bottle leaves you without knowing what drug, the exact dose, or the intended patient, and giving it could cause serious harm.

The safest course is to stop, do not administer, secure the bottle, label it only per facility policy, and notify a nurse for guidance. This ensures the medication is verified by someone with the proper access to the patient’s records and the pharmacy, and it keeps actions documented and compliant with safety rules.

The nurse will identify the substance, confirm the correct patient and dose, and determine the proper next steps—whether it can be labeled and dispensed through proper channels or disposed of according to policy. Documenting that you found an unlabeled bottle and the steps you took is also part of staying safe and responsible.

Avoid guessing, labeling and administering, or discarding without following policy. This approach protects the patient and aligns with the established rights of medication administration.