1. Phase 1: Before Your Infusion Starts
Before receiving any medication, verify these critical checkpoints with your nurse or doctor:
- Question 1: Exact Drug Name & Indication: "What is the exact brand and generic name of this medication, and what specific condition is it treating today?" Ensure the drug matches what your prescriber described.
- Question 2: Vesicant Status: "Is this medication considered a vesicant or vein irritant, and should I feel any burning or stinging during administration?" Knowing this empowers you to alert your nurse immediately if burning starts.
- Question 3: Allergy & Lab Cross-Check: "Have you confirmed my allergy list and checked my recent kidney and blood count lab tests before compounding this dose?" Catches omitted allergies.
- Question 4: Premedication Schedule: "Am I supposed to receive anti-nausea, antihistamine, or steroid premedications before this bag starts, and have they had sufficient time to take effect?" Ensures premedications are not skipped.
2. Phase 2: During Your Infusion
While the infusion is running, remain vigilant about device settings and body sensations:
- Question 5: Pump Rate & Duration: "What rate is this smart infusion pump programmed to deliver (in mL per hour), and how long should this bag take to finish?" Helps catch decimal point errors (e.g. 100 mL/h vs 10 mL/h).
- Question 6: Pump Alarms: "What does that specific beep or alarm mean on my pump, and why did the fluid stop flowing?" Never allow anyone other than a nurse to silence or bypass an alarm.
- Question 7: Normal vs. Abnormal Sensations: "What sensations are normal to feel (such as mild coolness or metallic taste) versus red-flag symptoms that I should call you for immediately?"
3. Phase 3: After Your Infusion & At Home
Before leaving the clinic or completing your home dose, confirm post-infusion safety:
- Question 8: Delayed Side Effects: "What delayed symptoms might occur 24 to 72 hours from now at home (such as fever, rash, or joint pain), and how should I treat them?"
- Question 9: Site Hygiene & Showering: "How do I protect my catheter dressing from getting wet when I shower or bathe at home?"
- Question 10: 24/7 Emergency Escalation Number: "Who is my direct clinical contact if my IV site swells or my pump beeps constantly at 2:00 AM, and what is their direct 24/7 telephone number?" Never rely on general hospital operator lines during an acute vascular emergency.