North Carolina Medication Aide (Med Tech) Practice Exam

What should be done if there is a discrepancy with a medication administration record (MAR)?

1. Ignore it and continue with the medication schedule

2. Make a note on the MAR and report

3. Update the MAR yourself immediately

4. Only inform the patient

The correct answer is: Make a note on the MAR and report

When there is a discrepancy with a medication administration record (MAR), the appropriate action is to make a note on the MAR and report the issue. This approach ensures that there is a formal record of the discrepancy that can be reviewed by other healthcare professionals and that any potential problems can be addressed promptly. Reporting is critical in maintaining the integrity of medication administration practices, ensuring patient safety, and facilitating further investigation into the cause of the discrepancy. By documenting and reporting the issue, you contribute to a system of checks and balances in medication administration. This practice helps prevent medication errors and ensures that healthcare staff are aware of any potential risks associated with administering medications. Immediate updates to the MAR by individuals not authorized to do so could lead to further confusion and errors, while ignoring the issue would fully disregard established safety protocols. Additionally, simply informing the patient does not address the clinical implications of any discrepancies and might leave the healthcare environment vulnerable to errors that could impact patient care. Implementation of the correct protocol to highlight discrepancies assures all staff remain vigilant and aware of medication records, thereby promoting a culture of safety and accountability within the healthcare setting.