If a resident has a known allergy to a medication, what should you do?

• A. Do not administer; notify supervising nurse and document; ensure allergy is noted on MAR and bracelet.
• B. Give a tiny test dose to check tolerance.
• C. Proceed with the dose but monitor for reaction.
• D. Ignore the allergy if the resident seems fine.

Answer: (A)

Safety is the priority: with a known medication allergy, do not give the drug. Notify the supervising nurse right away and document the allergy in the resident’s medical record and MAR. Make sure the allergy is noted on the MAR and that an allergy alert is visible on the resident (such as a bracelet) so all staff avoid that medication in the future. This prevents exposure and guides future treatment decisions. A tiny test dose isn’t appropriate because even small amounts can trigger a reaction in someone who is allergic. Proceeding with the dose, or ignoring the allergy, puts the resident at real risk of a serious or life-threatening reaction. Documenting and communicating the allergy ensures safe, coordinated care.