What is a critical step in ensuring a patient’s safety during IV therapy?

Double-checking the medication and dosage before administration is crucial for patient safety during IV therapy. This step is vital because it helps to prevent medication errors, which can lead to serious adverse effects or complications. By verifying the medication and its dosage, healthcare providers can ensure that the right drug is given to the right patient at the right time and in the correct amount. This practice is part of the "five rights" of medication administration, which also include verifying the patient's identity, the route of administration, and the documentation.

While administering medication quickly might seem efficient, it increases the risk of mistakes, especially in a fast-paced clinical environment. Using the least invasive method possible is generally associated with good practice, but it does not specifically address the safety checks needed for medication administration. Having another nurse do the IV insertion may provide additional support but does not inherently ensure that the medication and dosage have been correctly verified, which is the core aspect of patient safety in this context.