Example of a medication administration record

Medication Administration Records should be developed per agency-specific protocol. In some instances, pharmacies may generate medication administration records for facilities who administer an abundant amount of routine and/or PRN medications.

Routine Medication Administration Record(contains ongoing medication orders; i.e. medicines are given on a daily basis. Also contains medication that is ordered on a one time only basis.) The following are examples of information to include on the MAR:

• Month and year that the Medication Administration Record represents.
• Date order was given, and date and time medication was administered.
• Initial of the person transcribing the order.
• Initial of the person giving the medication
• Name of medication, dosage, route, time,
• An area for staff signatures, initials or other means for agency-specific staff identification.
• Acronyms are used to describe the reasons why medications were not given. See agency-specific policy regarding approved acronyms.
• Sample acronyms describing reasons why medications were not given

– R=refused

– H=hospital

– D=destroyed

• Client identification

• A most common method used for identifying residents before administering medications is photographs of residents in the medication administration records;
• Photos should be kept updated and photograph is to have the name of the resident on it

(Relying on other staff to identify residents for medication administration is not appropriate).

• Name;
• number (if applicable);
• date of birth;
• gender;
• height;
• weight.

• ALLERGIES (list in RED)
• Attending Practitioner
• Nutritional Information
• Other necessary medical information (i.e. seizure disorder, allergies, asthma, pregnancy);
• Other necessary behavioral information (i.e. checking, binging, purging, etc.).

• special diet;
• illness;
• food allergies;

Documentation for PRN medications is different.

PRN (when necessary) Medication Administration Record(contains medications that have been ordered on an “as-needed basis”). PRN medications are given on an as-needed basis per the licensed practitioner’s order.

This record should contain the same information as the routine MAR. In addition, the PRN MAR should contain:

• Documentation of time and amount administered;
• Ongoing observation, inquiry, and documentation some two hours after administration will determine effective or ineffective results of the medication;
• Documentation of the effectiveness of the medication;
• There are two acronyms that need to be added to the record to describe this (i.e. I=ineffective; E=effective).

Some Agencies May Have an Over The Counter Medication Administration Record.

ALL medications should have a “practitioner’s order”. Over the counter medications do not require prescriptions for purchase, but should be included on the practitioner’s standing medication order.

This record should contain the same information as on the PRN Medication Administration Record. In addition, there should be:

• Documentation of “why” the medication was given (i.e. complaints of headache).

1. Initial appropriate box. Document on the reverse side (or other designated area) on the MAR the time, dose, and reason why PRN medication was administered.
2. Check back with the client within 30-60 min and document the client’s status (better or worse?) on the reverse side (or other designated area) on the MAR. Contact the appropriate person if necessary, a document that you have notified the supervisor if a client is not improved.
3. Psychotropic meds cannot be given PRN except in residential treatment facilities for the mentally ill or if the client understands the purpose of medication and is capable of requesting it.