What should you do first when entering a hospital room to perform an ultrasound exam?

• A. Check room number
• B. Ask nurse to confirm the patient's name
• C. Ask the patient if they speak English
• D. Check wristband for identification

Answer: (D)

Verifying the patient’s identity before any ultrasound exam is essential to prevent wrong-patient errors. The first step is to read the wristband and confirm the identifiers shown there—typically the patient’s name and date of birth (and sometimes medical record number)—and then cross-check these against the order or chart. This direct check ensures you’re about to perform the study on the correct person and on the correct body area, which is a core patient-safety practice.

Room number can change or be misread, and while asking a nurse to confirm the patient’s name is helpful, it doesn’t replace directly identifying the patient with the wristband. Asking about language doesn’t verify who the patient is. Once identity is confirmed, you can proceed with introductions and proceed with the exam.