If a crushed medication is approved for administration, what labeling or handling is required?

• A. Crush all tablets whenever the patient cannot swallow.
• B. Label crushed contents and ensure proper administration.
• C. Do not label crushed contents.
• D. Crush and administer without labeling.

Answer: (B)

Labeling crushed medications is essential because crushing a drug can alter how it works and mislabeling can lead to wrong drugs, doses, or routes being given. When a crushed form is approved for use, the contents must be clearly labeled so everyone involved knows exactly what the patient is receiving, at what dose, and how to administer it. A proper label typically includes the patient’s name, the drug name and strength, the dose, the intended route, the date and time, and the person who prepared it. This protects patient safety by maintaining accurate administration and traceability, and it helps ensure leftovers are handled or discarded according to policy.

Crushing everything or administering without labeling would increase the risk of errors and adverse events, and not labeling crushed contents can lead to confusion about what was prepared for the patient. Some tablets should not be crushed at all (such as controlled-release or enteric-coated forms), so the requirement to label applies specifically when crushing is approved and performed, with adherence to facility guidelines and the medication’s labeling.