What vital information should a nurse confirm before administering medication to a client?

Before administering medication to a client, it is crucial for the nurse to confirm the client’s full name and date of birth. This step is integral to ensuring patient safety and preventing medication errors. By verifying these identifiers, the nurse can accurately match the medication order to the correct individual, thereby minimizing the risk of giving the medication to the wrong patient.

This approach is supported by the standards of practice in medication administration, which emphasize the importance of using at least two identifiers to establish the identity of the patient. Such protocols help healthcare professionals maintain high standards of safety and accountability in the administration of medications.

While the client's current medications provide valuable information regarding potential drug interactions and therapeutic efficacy, confirming identity through full name and date of birth is a primary safety measure. Other options, such as confirming insurance status or family history, do not directly relate to the immediate and critical task of safe medication administration.