A patient says the night shift nurse never gave him his medication due at 2100. What will the nurse do first to determine whether the medication was given?

• A. Call the physician
• B. Check the medication administration record
• C. Administer the medication again
• D. Speak with the night shift nurse

Answer: (B)

To determine whether a medication was given, you start with verifying documentation. The medication administration record is the official log that shows what was administered, when, dose, route, and by whom. In this scenario, you would check the MAR for the 2100 dose to see if it was entered as given, held, or not given. This step provides objective evidence before taking any further action, such as re-administering the med or contacting the physician. If the MAR confirms the dose was given, you can discuss with the night shift nurse or review the chart for any timing discrepancies with the patient. If the MAR shows it was not given, escalate appropriately based on policy (e.g., notify the physician or document the discrepancy and monitor the patient). Checking the MAR first prevents unnecessary re-dosing and helps protect patient safety.