What must outgoing staff verify during the shoulder to shoulder count?

The outgoing staff must verify the direction accuracy on the count page during the shoulder to shoulder count to ensure that medication counts are conducted correctly and accurately recorded. This process helps prevent errors in medication administration, promoting patient safety and accountability in the handling of medications. The count page outlines the specific medications being accounted for, and confirming its accuracy is essential in making sure that all medications match what is listed.

Other options, while important in their own right, do not specifically pertain to the immediate task of the shoulder to shoulder count. Expiry dates are relevant for checking medication safety but are not part of the count verification process. Patient identification is critical for ensuring that medications are given to the correct patient, but again, this is outside the scope of the shoulder to shoulder count. Lastly, while storage condition is vital for the integrity of medications, it is not directly involved in verifying the count during the transition of responsibilities between staff members.