What is the nurse’s responsibility regarding medication administration?

The nurse’s responsibility regarding medication administration encompasses a broad range of critical tasks aimed at ensuring patient safety and efficacy of treatment. The correct response emphasizes that nurses must ensure safe and correct administration of medications. This involves not only giving the medication as prescribed but also validating the right patient, drug, dose, route, and time to prevent errors.

Furthermore, monitoring for side effects is an essential part of the nurse's role. After administering medication, nurses observe the patient for any adverse reactions, which is crucial for their safety and allows for timely interventions if necessary. By actively monitoring, nurses can also assess the medication’s effectiveness and engage in necessary follow-up care.

Other options do not align with the responsibility of nurses in medication administration. Delegating all tasks to the pharmacy undermines the nurse's critical role in patient care. Focusing only on administration without monitoring fails to address the importance of patient safety and ongoing assessment. Educating patients solely after administration ignores the valuable opportunity for pre-administration education, which can promote adherence and understanding of the treatment plan. Therefore, the correct answer accurately reflects the comprehensive duties of nurses in medication management.