What is a common consequence of not following the five rights of medication administration?

Not adhering to the five rights of medication administration—right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, and right time—can lead to an increased risk of errors and adverse effects. Each of the five rights serves as a safety check to ensure that medications are given correctly, ultimately safeguarding patient health. When these principles are ignored, the likelihood of administering the wrong medication, incorrect dosage, or improper route rises significantly. This can result in harmful side effects, therapeutic failures, or even life-threatening situations for patients.

In contrast, the other options suggest outcomes that are not typically associated with neglecting these critical safety measures. Improved patient outcomes would generally require strict adherence to the five rights, rather than their violation. Faster medication delivery is not a valid justification for bypassing safety measures, as it could further compromise patient safety. Lastly, enhanced patient trust in healthcare would likely erode if patients experience medication errors due to noncompliance with the five rights. All these factors imply that the correct answer emphasizes the crucial relationship between following established protocols and maintaining patient safety.