What does the "rule of three" involve?

The "rule of three" is a critical practice in medication administration that emphasizes the importance of verifying the five rights before administering medication. These five rights are the right patient, the right medication, the right dose, the right route, and the right time. By adhering to this practice, healthcare professionals ensure that they are delivering the correct medication safely and effectively.

This process involves checking the medication label against the patient’s medication orders at three key points: when the medication is first taken from the storage area, when it is prepared for administration, and just before it is given to the patient. This thorough verification helps minimize the risk of errors and enhances patient safety, especially in sensitive populations such as children, where dosing and administration routes need to be precise.

While monitoring the child's reactions is essential, it does not constitute the rule of three, which is primarily focused on the administration process. Similarly, calculating a child's age in months or checking the environment does not directly relate to the critical verification of medication details necessary for safe medication practices.