For a medication count, which staff roles must be present?

For a medication count, which staff roles must be present?

• A. The nurse on the night shift only
• B. The person ending the shift and the person starting the shift
• C. The resident and the nurse
• D. The physician and the nurse

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that medication counts during shift change require a two-person verification to ensure safety and accuracy. The best answer is that the nurse ending the shift and the nurse starting the shift must be present to perform the count together and sign off. This ensures accountability and helps catch any discrepancies between the physical meds and what’s recorded, reducing the risk of missed or miscounted doses and potential diversion. Having only the night shift nurse present isn’t enough because there’s no second verifier. Involving the resident isn’t appropriate for safety and privacy reasons, and a physician isn’t typically part of routine shift-change counts. The two-nurse handoff count provides the necessary double-check at the point of transition.

The main idea is that medication counts during shift change require a two-person verification to ensure safety and accuracy. The best answer is that the nurse ending the shift and the nurse starting the shift must be present to perform the count together and sign off. This ensures accountability and helps catch any discrepancies between the physical meds and what’s recorded, reducing the risk of missed or miscounted doses and potential diversion. Having only the night shift nurse present isn’t enough because there’s no second verifier. Involving the resident isn’t appropriate for safety and privacy reasons, and a physician isn’t typically part of routine shift-change counts. The two-nurse handoff count provides the necessary double-check at the point of transition.