When pouring liquid medications, which practice is correct?

When pouring liquid medications, which practice is correct?

• A. Pour away from the label.
• B. Pour toward the label.
• C. Pour into the container after measuring.
• D. Pour while the bottle is inverted.

Answer: (A)

Pour away from the label. Keeping the label dry protects the information printed on it and helps you read the dose accurately. If the liquid streams toward the label, it can wet or smear the label, making the drug name, strength, and instructions harder to read and increasing the chance of dosing errors. In practice, you pour into a separate measuring device or cup with the bottle held so the liquid flows away from the label, then administer the measured amount. Pouring while inverted or pouring toward the label can cause spills or contamination and should be avoided.

Pour away from the label. Keeping the label dry protects the information printed on it and helps you read the dose accurately. If the liquid streams toward the label, it can wet or smear the label, making the drug name, strength, and instructions harder to read and increasing the chance of dosing errors. In practice, you pour into a separate measuring device or cup with the bottle held so the liquid flows away from the label, then administer the measured amount. Pouring while inverted or pouring toward the label can cause spills or contamination and should be avoided.