When preparing medications, what should be done first to ensure safety?

When preparing medications, reading the medication labels first is crucial for ensuring safety. Medication labels provide essential information, including the drug's name, dosage, route of administration, expiration date, and any specific instructions for use. This information helps confirm that the correct medication is being prepared for the right patient and that it meets the prescribed guidelines.

Understanding the medication labels is vital to prevent errors such as administering the wrong drug or incorrect dosage. This step lays the groundwork for safe medication administration by ensuring that the healthcare provider is aware of critical details about the medication they are handling.

Other considerations, such as reviewing the latest research on drug interactions and checking laboratory test results, are also important but are typically performed after confirming the correct medication. Comparing medications with the patient's preferences is essential in the context of patient-centered care but does not directly address the immediate safety concerns related to medication preparation. Thus, reading medication labels serves as a primary and fundamental action to ensure patient safety in medication management.