IV Medicine at Home - Chemotherapy by IV push

Your child needs to take these medicines at home:

Chemotherapy (chemo) medicine: ____________________________

Your child's chemo may also be labeled as:____________________________________

Dose (amount to give): _________ 

Give the chemotherapy medicine over ______ minutes.

Give the chemotherapy medicine on the following days:

__________________________________________________________________

• Review the “Safe Handling of Chemotherapy Medicine at Home" patient and family education handout before giving your child chemotherapy.

• Chemotherapy may make your child nauseous.  Give as needed anti-nausea medications as instructed by your care team.

Normal saline  (2 syringes) - Amount to give: ______mL

Heparin 10 units/mL (1 syringe) - Amount to give: ______mL

Preventing infection

It is very important to prevent infection, which might require removal of the IV catheter. The nurse will show you how to keep your supplies sterile, so no germs will enter the catheter and cause an infection.

Cleanliness is a must! Each time you give the chemotherapy, follow these steps:

1. Prepare a clean work area by cleaning a solid surface with household cleanser (such as Lysol® or another brand) and lay a clean towel on it.
2. Clean your hands well, using one of the following methods:
   
   • Use an alcohol hand sanitizer (Purell® or another brand) according to directions.
   • If hands are dirty or sanitizer is not available, wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water, rubbing all surfaces briskly, including under fingernails. Use a paper towel or clean hand towel to dry your hands and then use the towel to turn off the faucet.
3. Before each time you flush or put any medicine into the IV tubing, scrub the injection cap for 15 seconds with a fresh chlorhexidine wipe, using friction. Let it dry for 15 seconds or until completely dry. Do not fan or blow on it.

Giving the medicines

1. Prepare the work area.
2. Clean your hands well.
3. Gather supplies:
   
   • chlorhexidine wipes
   • chemotherapy medicine
   • Chemotherapy administration kit (includes a gown, two pairs of gloves, a face mask with eye protection, and a chemotherapy mat.) 
   • heparin syringe (1)
   • normal saline syringes (2)
   • watch or timer
4. Put on gown, mask with eye protection, and double gloves. (Put the long cuff gloves over the top of the short cuff gloves.)
5. Put supplies in order of use on the work surface.
6. Compare the chemotherapy syringe with your written instructions. Check the label to make sure it states your child's name, the right medicine, and the right dose. If the label on the syringe does not exactly match your written instructions, do not give it. Contact the cancer and blood disorders clinic or the home care pharmacy. 
7. Check the labels of the normal saline and heparin syringes before giving them.
8. Note: Pre-filled saline and heparin syringes have an air bubble in them. Remove the air bubble by following these instructions: With the tip cap of the syringe on, press the syringe rod forward until it “pops.”  Remove the cap, being careful not to touch the inside of the cap.  Point the syringe tip up and gently squirt the air bubble out.  Place cap back on the syringe. (Never pull the rod backwards, as the saline or heparin could become contaminated.)
9. Open the clamp on the catheter or port needle tubing.
10. Scrub the injection cap with a chlorhexidine wipe for 15 seconds and let it dry completely. 
11. Attach the normal saline.
12. Pull back on the syringe plunger to check for a blood return before injecting any medicines or fluids.
    • If there is blood return, flush with the normal saline using the "push-and-pause" method. When empty, remove the syringe.
    • If there is no blood return, contact your home care agency or the cancer and blood disorders clinic.
13. Scrub the injection cap with a chlorhexidine wipe for 15 seconds and let it dry completely.
14. Attach the chemotherapy syringe.  
15. Slowly give the chemotherapy as instructed by your nurse.   Remove the syringe. 
16. Scrub the injection cap with a chlorhexidine wipe for 15 seconds and let it dry. 
17. Attach the normal saline syringe and slowly flush half of the saline in as instructed by your nurse. Flush the remaining half of the saline using the “push-and pause” method. 
18. Scrub the injection cap with a chlorhexidine wipe for 15 seconds and let it dry completely.
19. Attach the heparin syringe and flush using the "push-and-pause" method. Remove the syringe. 
20. Clamp the tubing. 
21. Apply a new disinfection cap (if used by your home care agency.) 
22. Put the empty chemotherapy syringe, chemotherapy drug packaging, and gloves in the yellow chemotherapy sharps container. 
23. The gown, normal saline syringes, heparin, and other used supplies can be put in the regular trash when chemotherapy is completed.  
24. Wash hands with soap and water. Do not use hand sanitizer after giving chemotherapy.

Call the cancer and blood disorders clinic if: 

• nausea or vomiting not controlled by anti-nausea medication 
• chemo splashes on skin or in eyes (call after following the chemotherapy spill procedure) 
• any questions about chemo medicine or its side effects 

Call the home care nurse if you have one, or the cancer and blood disorders clinic if: 

• the chemo label does not match written instructions 
• you are unable to get a blood return 
• you are unable to flush the IV 
• you have any questions about the procedure

What else do I need to know? 

You and your child should know the names and doses of all the medicines they   are taking. Share this information with anyone involved in your child's health care. 

If you miss a dose or suspect that you have made an error in giving these or any medicines, please contact the cancer and blood disorders clinic right away. 

Questions? 

For more information, see the specific education sheets for your child's chemotherapy. If you have any questions or concerns, please call: 
 
Home care nurse: ____________________________ 

Supply company: ____________________________ 

Clinic: ____________________________

Last reviewed 2/2025

Back To Top