In Steps for Oral Meds, what is the first step?

In Steps for Oral Meds, what is the first step?

• A. Wash hands
• B. Assemble equipment
• C. Document med on MAR
• D. Check MAR

Answer: (A)

Starting with hand hygiene sets the foundation for safe medication administration. Washing hands reduces the risk of transferring germs to the patient or to the medications, creating a clean, contamination-free starting point before you touch anything related to giving the dose. After hands are clean, you proceed to gather equipment, verify the MAR, and check the medication against the MAR as part of the safety checks. The key idea is that clean hands come first to protect both you and the patient.

Starting with hand hygiene sets the foundation for safe medication administration. Washing hands reduces the risk of transferring germs to the patient or to the medications, creating a clean, contamination-free starting point before you touch anything related to giving the dose. After hands are clean, you proceed to gather equipment, verify the MAR, and check the medication against the MAR as part of the safety checks. The key idea is that clean hands come first to protect both you and the patient.