What should you ensure before beginning any medical procedure?

Ensuring that you have the right patient before beginning any medical procedure is essential for patient safety and quality care. This practice, known as patient identification, is crucial in preventing medical errors, such as administering the wrong treatment or medication to a different individual. Verifying the patient's identity typically involves checking their name and date of birth against their medical records or wristband. This step helps confirm that the healthcare provider is addressing the correct person and can significantly reduce the risk of harm that can result from misidentification.

While raising the bed, taking the patient’s blood pressure, or helping the patient sit up may be relevant tasks in certain procedures, they must only be performed after confirming you are with the right patient. Patient identification is a foundational aspect of safe healthcare practices and is prioritized across various healthcare settings to protect patient wellbeing.