What must be done after transcribing a medication onto the MAR?

After transcribing a medication onto the Medication Administration Record (MAR), it is essential to initial, date, and verify the transcription with another team member. This step is crucial for several reasons.

First, initialing and dating the entry provides a written record that confirms the transcription has been completed and serves as a reference for when the transcription occurred. This can be vital for accountability and tracking purposes.

Second, verifying the transcription with another team member promotes safety and accuracy. Having a second person check the entry helps to catch any errors in medication name, dosage, frequency, or other vital details, ensuring that what has been transcribed aligns with the original prescription. This collaborative verification process is an important safeguard in medication administration, reducing the risk of potential medication errors.

Other options, such as disposing of the original prescription, are not appropriate as they could lead to issues with accountability and verification of the medication order. Additionally, merely initialing and dating the MAR without verification does not provide the additional layer of safety that confirmation with another team member does. Notifying the doctor of the transcription is unnecessary unless there is a specific issue with the medication order itself.