If a patient claims to have already taken a prescribed medication, what is the most appropriate first step to avoid duplication?

• A. Check the medication administration record
• B. Administer a second dose
• C. Increase dosage
• D. Notify the physician only

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to prevent giving a medication twice by verifying what has already been given. The first step is to check the medication administration record (paper or electronic). The MAR shows every dose that has been administered, including times, routes, and by whom, so you can confirm whether the patient truly took the medication recently and whether another dose is due or already given. This verification keeps you from guessing and helps prevent overdose, aligning actions with documented patient care. If the MAR shows the dose was already given, you withhold another dose and follow the facility’s protocol for discrepancies. Administering a second dose or increasing the dosage without verification could cause harm, and simply notifying the physician without first checking the record may delay or miss the actual status of the medication.