[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/) › [Patient safety](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/areas/safety/) › Correct patient identification

# Correct patient identification

- Safe practice

Before any care, at least two of the patient's own details are used to confirm that you are caring for the right person.

Updated Nov 5, 2026

## Key points

- At least two identifiers for every intervention: for example full name and date of birth, or ID document number.
- The bed or room number is never an identifier.
- Ask the patient to state their name; do not ask «Are you Mr Pérez?».
- Compare what the patient says with the wristband and with the order or record.
- If the patient cannot answer, identify them following the institutional protocol (wristband, photo, relative), without skipping the check.

## What it is

Misidentification lies behind serious errors: medicines, transfusions, specimens or surgery given to the wrong patient. WHO included patient identification among its 2007 patient safety solutions, and the MinSalud technical guide counts it among the safe care processes. The core rule is to use at least two identifiers, such as full name and date of birth or ID document number, and never the bed or room number. Identity is checked on admission and before every intervention, even when the patient is already familiar.

## What it requires

- Identify the patient from admission, with details confirmed verbally and recorded.
- Apply an identification wristband that is standardised across the institution.
- Check identity before giving care: medicines, transfusions, specimens, procedures and transfers.
- Label specimens in front of the patient, after confirming their identity.
- Have a protocol for patients without ID, unconscious patients, newborns and patients with the same name.

## How it is applied (and why)

- Before approaching, review the order or record with the patient's details: that way you know what to compare.
- Ask the patient to state their full name and date of birth: WHO asks that patients identify themselves, not just agree with a name read to them.
- Compare the answers with the wristband and the order: at least two identifiers must match.
- If anything does not match or the wristband is missing, stop and clarify identity: carrying on is a serious risk.
- For a patient who cannot speak, use the wristband and the institutional protocol (photo, relative or companion): the check is never skipped.
- Label tubes and specimens at the bedside, never beforehand or at the station: that keeps the specimen tied to the right person.
- Involve the patient and family: explain why they are asked so often and ask them to speak up if they see an error.
- Repeat the check at every intervention, even if you know the patient: WHO asks for it with familiar patients too.

## Risky situations and what to do

| Situation | Risk | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Two patients with the same or similar names | Mixing up medicines or results | Always use the second identifier and follow the institutional protocol for same names |
| Unconscious patient or patient without ID | Identity cannot be confirmed verbally | Identify them per the institutional protocol (wristband, photo, relative) until the details are confirmed |
| Newborn | No ID document of their own | Identification per the institutional protocol for single or multiple births |
| Transfer to another unit or facility | Identity not re-checked on arrival | Check two identifiers against the wristband and the record at handover |

## In nursing practice

- Misidentification causes medication and transfusion errors, testing errors and wrong-person procedures.
- The MinSalud technical guide asks for the same care when identifying the patient and their laboratory specimens.
- The MinSalud guide lists the details registered on admission: full names, ID type and number, sex, date of birth and others, all confirmed verbally.
- Patients and families are encouraged to take part, ask questions and voice concerns about possible identification errors.

## Common mistakes

- Using the bed or room number as an identifier.
- Asking «Are you…?» instead of having the patient state their name.
- Labelling specimens before collecting them or away from the patient.
- Skipping the check because the patient is familiar.
- Relying only on what a confused patient says, without checking the wristband.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## How many identifiers must be checked before an intervention, and which one is never used?

At least two, for example full name and date of birth or ID document number. The bed or room number is never an identifier.

## Why is the patient asked to state their name rather than asked whether they are called a certain name?

Because WHO asks patients to identify themselves; the answer is then compared with the wristband and the record. A «yes» to a name read aloud confirms nothing.

## Where and when are laboratory specimens labelled?

At the bedside, at the time of collection and after confirming the patient's identity; never beforehand or at the nurses' station.

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## Connections

## Related 3

- [The rights of medication administration](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/the-rights-of-medication-administration/)
- [The WHO surgical safety checklist](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/the-who-surgical-safety-checklist/)
- [Patient safety in Colombia: the policy and its instructional packages](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/patient-safety-in-colombia-the-policy-and-its-instructional-packages/)

[← All of nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/)

Educational content for students; it does not replace your institution's protocols, supervised clinical training or a prescriber's order. Dose-calculation examples use made-up numbers: they are educational, not a clinical order.

Sources: [Patient Identification. Patient Safety Solutions, volume 1, solution 2](https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/patient-safety/patient-safety-solutions/ps-solution2-patient-identification.pdf?sfvrsn=ff81d7f9_6) (World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Patient Safety Solutions, 2007); [Nursing Fundamentals, 5.5 National Patient Safety Goals](https://med.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Nursing/Nursing_Fundamentals_(OpenRN)/05%3A_Safety/5.05%3A_National_Patient_Safety_Goals) (Open RN, Wisconsin Technical College System (CC BY 4.0), LibreTexts edition, 2021); [Guía técnica Buenas prácticas para la seguridad del paciente en la atención en salud, versión 1](https://www.minsalud.gov.co/sites/rid/Lists/BibliotecaDigital/RIDE/DE/CA/guia-buenas-practicas-seguridad-paciente2010.pdf) (Ministerio de la Protección Social (MinSalud), Colombia, 2010).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/nursing/correct-patient-identification/