The 7-Point Bedside Patient Safety Verification Checklist

A practical bedside checklist empowering patients and loved ones to partner with nurses to verify medication identity, infusion pump settings, and vascular device integrity before any infusion begins.

1. The 7-Point Bedside Verification Checklist

Before any intravenous medication or blood product is connected to your line, review these seven safety checkpoints together with your nurse:

0 of 7 Completed

1. Two Patient Identifiers: Did the nurse ask you to state your full legal name and date of birth while checking your hospital wristband barcode?

2. Medication Name & Indication: Did the nurse verify the exact drug name and purpose on the bag label, confirming it matches what your doctor ordered?

3. Dose & Dilution Volume: Is the dose printed on the pharmacy label correct for your current weight?

4. Expiration Date & Fluid Clarity: Did the nurse hold the bag up to the light to verify the solution is crystal clear with zero cloudiness or floating particles?

5. Line Tracing from Bag to Body: Did the nurse physically trace the tubing with their fingers from the medication container, through the pump chamber, directly to your arm connection?

6. Smart Pump Drug Library Confirmation: Does the drug name and hourly infusion rate (mL/h) displayed on the electronic pump screen match your medication label?

7. Call Bell in Reach: Is your emergency nurse call bell placed directly in your hand or within easy reach on your pillow?

2. Rights of Medication Administration & Patient Advocacy

In accredited hospitals, nurses follow the clinical "Five Rights" of medication administration (Right Patient, Right Drug, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Time). As an empowered patient, you have the right to ask questions, pause the procedure if something feels unfamiliar, and have your concerns respectfully answered before medication flows into your body.