During a handoff report, what is the appropriate action when encountering an unlabeled medication?

When dealing with an unlabeled medication, the most appropriate action is to discard the medication and replace it with an unopened container. This approach is essential for patient safety, as using an unlabeled medication poses significant risks. Medications that are not properly labeled could be mistaken for something else, leading to potential errors in patient administration or dosage.

By choosing to discard the unlabeled medication, the integrity and safety of patient care are prioritized. It is vital to always confirm the identity and appropriateness of a medication before administration, and using a medication without a label fails to meet the safety standards expected in a perioperative environment. Additionally, acquiring an unopened container ensures that the medication is intact, correctly labeled, and sterile, which is particularly important in surgical settings.

Other potential actions, such as requesting clarification from the outgoing nurse, while valuable in some contexts, may not be sufficient if the medication is already deemed unsafe due to the lack of labeling.