Resident is to receive medication at 1600, and it is now 1645. What do you do?

Giving medication at 1645, when it was scheduled for 1600, adheres to the principle that medications can often be administered within a certain time frame surrounding the scheduled dose. Generally, this time frame is an hour before or after the scheduled administration time, allowing for some flexibility in medication administration. Since 1645 is just 45 minutes after the scheduled time of 1600, it falls within the acceptable range.

Documenting the administration is crucial as it provides a record of what medication was given, when it was given, and ensures proper communication among healthcare providers. This documentation also protects both the patient and the caregiver by ensuring accurate medication records, which are vital for ongoing patient care.

Options that suggest not administering the medication or waiting for the next scheduled time fail to recognize the importance of timely medication administration while still accommodating reasonable delays. Simply giving the medication without documentation would not fulfill the best practices in nursing or medication administration standards, which prioritize thorough record-keeping.