What is the purpose of the resident's wristband during medication administration?

• A. To indicate room temperature
• B. To measure blood pressure
• C. To record meal times
• D. To confirm the resident's identity before giving the medication

Answer: (D)

The key idea is patient identification. The resident’s wristband is used to verify that the person you’re giving medication to is the intended resident, matching the information on the band (like the name and sometimes date of birth) with the medication order and the MAR. This helps ensure the right patient receives the right drug, at the right dose, at the right time. Many facilities also use barcode scanning to confirm these details quickly and accurately. The wristband isn’t about room temperature, vital signs, or meal timing—those are checked through other procedures. If the wristband data and the order don’t align, you pause and re-check to prevent a med error.