Which practice is essential to maintain resident safety during medication administration?

The practice of never leaving medications unattended is crucial for maintaining resident safety during medication administration. This is because leaving medications unattended increases the risk of errors, such as a resident accidentally consuming them or someone else accessing the medications inappropriately. Ensuring that medications are always supervised promotes a secure environment and helps prevent potential medication errors or misuse.

In contrast, while it is important to keep medications in a secure location, simply placing them in a locked drawer does not address what happens during the administration process. Administering medications quickly might seem efficient, but it can lead to oversight and mistakes that jeopardize a resident's safety. Monitoring residents only during meal times does not provide adequate supervision during medication administration, which is a critical moment when attention to detail is paramount.