What must be completed prior to medication preparation?

Before proceeding with medication preparation, several crucial steps must be taken to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the process. One of the most important is confirming the patient's identity. This step is vital to ensure that the right medication is administered to the correct individual, thereby minimizing the risk of errors that could harm the patient.

Additionally, gathering all necessary equipment is essential to ensure that the medication preparation can be performed efficiently and safely. This step involves ensuring that all tools and supplies required for the preparation are available and ready for use, which helps prevent delays or mistakes during the process.

Patient consent forms are also typically necessary to ensure that various procedures, including medication administration, may only occur after the patient has granted their informed consent. This respects the patient's autonomy and legal rights regarding their treatment choices.

Therefore, due to the significance of confirming the patient’s identity, gathering necessary equipment, and ensuring consent, it is accurate to state that all of these actions must be completed prior to medication preparation. This thorough approach safeguards patient care and compliance with healthcare protocols.