Last reviewed May 6, 2026 by NPBoardSlay Medical Review Board

5 Rights

Medication Administration Rights

Five checks before every dose — no shortcuts.

On the AANP exam, medication errors are tested as system failures, and the 5 Rights are the irreducible verification loop every nurse and NP runs before a dose. Right patient (two identifiers), right drug (label match), right dose (calculated, double-checked for high-alert meds), right route (PO, IV, SC, IM, sublingual), right time (frequency, lookback for last dose). Some institutions add right documentation, indication, and response — useful, but the original five are what boards tests. AANP vignettes will hand you a near-miss and ask what step would have prevented it. The answer almost always lives inside the 5 Rights.

1
Right patient
Two identifiers (name + DOB or MRN); check the wristband.
2
Right drug
Name matches the order; not a look-alike/sound-alike.
3
Right dose
Calculated; matches the order; pediatric mg/kg double-checked.
4
Right route
PO vs IV vs IM vs SQ vs PR — never assume.
5
Right time
Scheduled vs PRN; frequency not exceeded; hold parameters checked.

Clinical Context

Foundational safety check for every medication administration. An error on any right causes a med error — the big ones to never skip are patient and dose, especially for high-alert meds (insulin, heparin, opioids, chemo, concentrated electrolytes).

Modern expansions add Right documentation, Right reason, Right response, and Right to refuse — but the classic 5 are non-negotiable. AANP tests this under nursing/professional-role questions: the stem describes a scenario where one right is violated and you identify which.