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Assessment involves gathering data about the patient’s condition, allergies, and medication history before administration, not the actual preparation or administration of medications.

Planning focuses on setting priorities and identifying desired outcomes, such as ensuring medications are prepared and given safely, but it does not involve physically preparing the medications.

Evaluation occurs after medication administration, where the nurse observes and determines the effectiveness of the medication and monitors for adverse effects, not during preparation.

Amoxicillin is a commonly prescribed antibiotic with a relatively low risk of causing severe harm when administered incorrectly. It does not require the same heightened safety precautions as high-alert medications.

Ibuprofen is a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). While it has potential adverse effects like gastrointestinal irritation, it is not classified as a high-alert medication.

Loratadine is an over-the-counter antihistamine for allergies and is not categorized as high-alert due to its low risk of serious harm with improper use.

Using generic names on labels promotes consistency but does not specifically address confusion caused by look-alike or sound-alike drug names, which can still appear similar in their generic forms.

Storing different medication types separately improves organization but does not specifically reduce confusion between medications with similar names; errors could still occur if names are misread.

Unit-dose packaging minimizes contamination and dosage errors but does not address the visual similarity of drug names, which is the primary concern with look-alike/sound-alike medications.

Category B drugs are considered relatively safe during pregnancy because animal studies have shown no risk to the fetus, though adequate human studies are lacking. These drugs may be prescribed if the healthcare provider deems the potential benefit greater than the unknown risk.

Category C drugs have demonstrated adverse fetal effects in animal studies, and no adequate human studies exist. These drugs may still be prescribed if the potential benefit to the mother justifies the potential fetal risk, but they are used cautiously.

Category D drugs have confirmed human fetal risk, but they may be necessary in serious or life-threatening conditions where safer alternatives are not available. Use is carefully considered and monitored by the healthcare provider.

Medication reconciliation is essential at hospital admission, but limiting it to this point neglects the possibility of medication changes during other care transitions, increasing the risk of discrepancies.

Although important when new medications are prescribed, reconciliation involves a broader process that verifies the entire medication list during transitions, not just during prescription changes.

Annual physical exams focus on preventative care and health maintenance, but medication reconciliation is prioritized during care transitions, where the risk of medication discrepancies is highest.