Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

What principle is applied when a nurse administers medications using the five rights?

1. Beneficence

2. Non-maleficence

3. Justice

4. Autonomy

The correct answer is: Non-maleficence

The principle applied when a nurse administers medications using the five rights—right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, and right time—is non-maleficence. This principle refers to the obligation of healthcare professionals to avoid causing harm to patients. By adhering to the five rights of medication administration, the nurse ensures that medications are given safely and effectively, minimizing the risk of errors such as administering the wrong medication or incorrect dosage. Focusing solely on the actions guided by the five rights helps to prevent adverse drug events, thereby upholding the commitment to do no harm. While beneficence, justice, and autonomy are also essential ethical principles in nursing practice, they serve different purposes. Beneficence concerns acting in the best interest of patients and promoting their well-being, justice involves fairness in treatment and resource allocation, and autonomy emphasizes respecting patients’ rights to make informed decisions about their own care. However, in the context of the specific action of administering medications safely, non-maleficence is the most relevant principle.