When administering medication, what should follow verifying the physician's order?

Verifying the physician's order is a critical first step in the medication administration process. Once the order has been confirmed, the next logical step is to prepare the medication. This preparation involves gathering the required medication and ensuring it is the correct dose for the specific patient. It is essential to do this carefully and accurately to maintain patient safety and adhere to standard protocols.

While consulting with the patient can be a vital part of the medication administration process, it typically comes after the preparation of the medication. This ensures that any questions or concerns the patient may have can be addressed once the medication is ready to be administered. Distributing the medication and documenting the order also occur later in the process after the preparation stage. Documenting is crucial for maintaining accurate medical records but is not an immediate follow-up to verifying the physician's order. Thus, the sequence of preparing the medication logically follows verification, aligning with best practices in nursing care.