A nurse is preparing to administer medication to a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

The nurse should follow the six rights of medication administration, which include the right client, right medication, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation. The first action the nurse should take is to compare the medication label with the MAR to ensure that they match and that the medication has been prescribed for the client.

A) This is an important action, but not the first one. The nurse should check the client's identification band after comparing the medication label with the MAR and before administering the medication.

B) This is an important action, but not the first one. The nurse should explain the purpose and side effects of the medication after comparing the medication label with the MAR and before administering the medication.

C) Correct. This is the first action the nurse should take to ensure that the right medication is being given to the right client.

D) This is an important action, but not the first one. The nurse should assess the client for contraindications and allergies after comparing the medication label with the MAR and before administering the medication.

The nurse should rotate the injection sites among different muscle groups to prevent tissue damage, irritation, and absorption problems. The nurse should follow the recommended sites for intramuscular injections, such as the deltoid, ventrolateral, vastus lateralis, and dorsogluteal muscles.

A) This is not an action to prevent medication errors, but rather an action to prevent leakage of the medication from the injection site and reduce pain and irritation. The Z-track method involves pulling the skin to one side before inserting the needle and releasing it after withdrawing the needle.

B) This is not an action to prevent medication errors, but rather an action to prevent injecting the medication into a blood vessel. Aspiration involves pulling back on the plunger of the syringe before injecting the medication and checking for blood return in the syringe.

C) This is not an action to prevent medication errors, but rather an action to enhance absorption and reduce pain and irritation. Massage involves applying gentle pressure to the injection site after administering the medication.

D) Correct. This is an action to prevent medication errors by avoiding repeated injections in the same muscle group.