What must be done before adding a medication to a diluent for infusion?

Before adding a medication to a diluent for infusion, verifying the medication and diluent compatibility is crucial. This step ensures that the two substances can be mixed safely without causing adverse reactions, such as precipitation, inactivation, or toxicity. Each medication has specific compatibility requirements based on its chemical properties and the formulation of the diluent. By confirming compatibility, healthcare providers can help prevent complications and ensure the effectiveness of the medication.

While other actions, like capping needles or using safety devices, may contribute to safe practices in medication administration, they do not address the critical need to ensure the intended therapeutic action of the medication. Administering a test dose, although relevant in some scenarios, is not always applicable before mixing medications and diluents. Hence, verifying compatibility stands as the foundational action to maintain patient safety and therapeutic efficacy.