What is a vital step before administering medication to a patient?

Verifying the patient's identity using two identifiers is a crucial step before administering medication. This practice ensures that the medication is given to the correct patient, reducing the risk of medication errors. Utilizing two identifiers—typically the patient’s name and date of birth or another unique identifier—provides a double-check to confirm the patient's identity in a healthcare setting. This aligns with standards of patient safety and is a key practice for preventing adverse events related to medication administration.

While checking the medication expiration date, assessing vital signs, and preparing medication in front of the patient are all important aspects of medication management, they do not directly address the critical need to confirm that the right medication is being administered to the correct individual. Thus, verifying the patient's identity is the foundational step that precedes these actions in safe medication administration.