Which of the following is essential in confirming the right patient before medication administration?

Confirming a patient's identity is crucial in preventing medication errors and ensuring patient safety. The process often involves verifying both the patient’s first and last name along with their medical record number. This method is particularly effective because it provides a dual layer of verification; the combination of the name and medical record number is specific to the individual patient and helps eliminate potential confusion with other patients who may have similar names.

In contrast, confirming insurance information does not provide any direct evidence of the patient's identity relevant to medication administration. Reviewing medical history, while important for understanding the patient's health background and medication interactions, does not inherently confirm who the patient is at the time of administration. Consulting with family members can be helpful in certain situations but does not serve as a reliable method for confirming patient identity, as it could lead to misunderstandings or incorrect information.

Thus, verifying both the patient's name and medical record number stands out as the most reliable and essential means of ensuring the correct patient receives the appropriate medication.