The dispensing of a medication is the processing of a drug for delivery or administration to a patient under the order of a licensed practitioner. What term describes this process?

• A. Administering.
• B. Compounding.
• C. Dispensing.
• D. Prescribing.

Answer: (C)

Dispensing is the process described: processing a drug for delivery or administration to a patient under the order of a licensed practitioner. This involves taking the prescription, selecting the correct drug and dose, measuring or counting the amount, labeling and packaging the medication, and providing it to the patient with clear usage instructions and safety information. It sits between the prescriber issuing the order and the patient actually taking the medicine. Administering is the act of giving the medication to the patient for use, often by a clinician or the patient themselves. Compounding is the preparation or mixing of ingredients to create a medication tailored to a patient, which may occur before dispensing. Prescribing is the act of writing the medication order.