During an IV push, what is a key safety step?

• A. IV push is direct administration of medication into an IV line over seconds to a few minutes; verify compatibility, proper dilution, and flush before and after.
• B. IV push is infusion of fluids over hours.
• C. IV push is injection into muscle.
• D. IV push uses a separate syringe pump.

Answer: (A)

In IV push, the safest practice is to verify that the medication is compatible with the IV line and the solution, confirm it is properly diluted, and flush the line before and after administering the drug. This ensures the drug won’t react with the IV fluids, prevents clogging or precipitates in the line, and guarantees the full dose is delivered while maintaining line patency. IV push involves direct administration into the IV line over a short time, not a slow infusion, and it’s not an injection into muscle. Using a syringe pump isn’t typically part of the standard IV push unless a specific protocol calls for it, but the essential safety steps remain compatibility check, proper dilution, and flushing before and after.