COF cheat sheet

Normal adult resting heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute; below 60 is bradycardia, above 100 is tachycardia.

Normal adult blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg; 130-139/80-89 mmHg is stage 1 hypertension per ACC/AHA.

Adult respiratory rate normally ranges 12-20 breaths per minute; rates above 20 define tachypnea.

Body mass index equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared; 18.5-24.9 is normal range.

Normal adult oral temperature is approximately 36.5-37.5 degrees Celsius (97.7-99.5 degrees Fahrenheit).

Hypoglycemia is blood glucose below 70 mg/dL; symptoms include diaphoresis, tremor, confusion, and tachycardia.

Hemoglobin A1c of 6.5 percent or higher on two occasions supports a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Standard precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious regardless of known diagnosis.

The SOAP note format orders documentation as Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan.

Differential diagnosis ranks candidate conditions by likelihood, severity, and treatability before confirmatory testing.

Sensitivity is the proportion of true positives detected; high-sensitivity tests are used to rule out disease.

Specificity is the proportion of true negatives detected; high-specificity tests are used to rule in disease.

Positive predictive value depends on disease prevalence in the tested population, not on the test alone.

A sign is an objective finding observed by the clinician; a symptom is a subjective report by the patient.

Red-flag findings such as sudden severe pain, unexplained weight loss, or neurologic deficit warrant urgent referral.

Treatment goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Informed consent requires disclosure of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the consequences of refusal.

Therapeutic index is the ratio of toxic dose to effective dose; a narrow index requires closer monitoring.

Polypharmacy is commonly defined as concurrent use of five or more medications.

The five rights of medication administration are right patient, drug, dose, route, and time.

Clinical practice guidelines grade recommendations by strength of evidence; lower-grade evidence supports weaker recommendations.

A treatment plan documents measurable outcomes and a scheduled reassessment interval.

The four core bioethical principles are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.

Informed consent may be withdrawn by the patient at any time, including after the procedure begins.

Mandatory reporting laws require reporting of suspected child abuse, elder abuse, and certain communicable diseases.

Confidentiality may be breached only where law requires disclosure or where serious harm to a third party is imminent.

Scope of practice defines the tasks a clinician may legally perform under a given license or certification.

Negligence requires four elements: duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.

A HIPAA breach affecting 500 or more individuals requires notification of affected persons within 60 days.

Teach-back confirms understanding by asking the patient to restate instructions in their own words.

Health literacy screening tools include the Newest Vital Sign and the Single Item Literacy Screener.

The patient record is a legal document; entries must be dated, timed, signed, and free of alterations after the fact.

Late entries are added with the current date and time plus a notation of the actual event time, never backdated.

Interpreters should be qualified medical interpreters, not family members, for clinical discussions.

Plain-language patient materials are typically written at a sixth- to eighth-grade reading level.

Release of records generally requires written patient authorization except for treatment, payment, or operations.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration bloodborne pathogens rules require an exposure control plan and hepatitis B vaccination offer.

Sharps containers must be puncture-resistant, closable, leakproof, labeled, and replaced when three-quarters full.

The Safety Data Sheet communicates chemical hazards and required handling precautions for each substance.

Fire response uses the RACE sequence: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish or Evacuate.

Hand hygiene with soap and water is required when hands are visibly soiled; alcohol-based rub is used otherwise.

Sterilization by autoclave uses pressurized steam, typically at 121 degrees Celsius and 15 psi for 15-20 minutes.

Quality improvement commonly uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle for iterative process change.

Normal adult resting heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute; below 60 is bradycardia, above 100 is tachycardia.

Normal adult blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg; 130-139/80-89 mmHg is stage 1 hypertension per ACC/AHA.

Adult respiratory rate normally ranges 12-20 breaths per minute; rates above 20 define tachypnea.

Body mass index equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared; 18.5-24.9 is normal range.

Normal adult oral temperature is approximately 36.5-37.5 degrees Celsius (97.7-99.5 degrees Fahrenheit).

Hypoglycemia is blood glucose below 70 mg/dL; symptoms include diaphoresis, tremor, confusion, and tachycardia.

Hemoglobin A1c of 6.5 percent or higher on two occasions supports a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Standard precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious regardless of known diagnosis.

The SOAP note format orders documentation as Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan.

Differential diagnosis ranks candidate conditions by likelihood, severity, and treatability before confirmatory testing.

Sensitivity is the proportion of true positives detected; high-sensitivity tests are used to rule out disease.

Specificity is the proportion of true negatives detected; high-specificity tests are used to rule in disease.

Positive predictive value depends on disease prevalence in the tested population, not on the test alone.

A sign is an objective finding observed by the clinician; a symptom is a subjective report by the patient.

Red-flag findings such as sudden severe pain, unexplained weight loss, or neurologic deficit warrant urgent referral.

Treatment goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Informed consent requires disclosure of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the consequences of refusal.

Therapeutic index is the ratio of toxic dose to effective dose; a narrow index requires closer monitoring.

Polypharmacy is commonly defined as concurrent use of five or more medications.

The five rights of medication administration are right patient, drug, dose, route, and time.

Clinical practice guidelines grade recommendations by strength of evidence; lower-grade evidence supports weaker recommendations.

A treatment plan documents measurable outcomes and a scheduled reassessment interval.

The four core bioethical principles are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.

Informed consent may be withdrawn by the patient at any time, including after the procedure begins.

Mandatory reporting laws require reporting of suspected child abuse, elder abuse, and certain communicable diseases.

Confidentiality may be breached only where law requires disclosure or where serious harm to a third party is imminent.

Scope of practice defines the tasks a clinician may legally perform under a given license or certification.

Negligence requires four elements: duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.

A HIPAA breach affecting 500 or more individuals requires notification of affected persons within 60 days.

Teach-back confirms understanding by asking the patient to restate instructions in their own words.

Health literacy screening tools include the Newest Vital Sign and the Single Item Literacy Screener.

The patient record is a legal document; entries must be dated, timed, signed, and free of alterations after the fact.

Late entries are added with the current date and time plus a notation of the actual event time, never backdated.

Interpreters should be qualified medical interpreters, not family members, for clinical discussions.

Plain-language patient materials are typically written at a sixth- to eighth-grade reading level.

Release of records generally requires written patient authorization except for treatment, payment, or operations.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration bloodborne pathogens rules require an exposure control plan and hepatitis B vaccination offer.

Sharps containers must be puncture-resistant, closable, leakproof, labeled, and replaced when three-quarters full.

The Safety Data Sheet communicates chemical hazards and required handling precautions for each substance.

Fire response uses the RACE sequence: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish or Evacuate.

Hand hygiene with soap and water is required when hands are visibly soiled; alcohol-based rub is used otherwise.

Sterilization by autoclave uses pressurized steam, typically at 121 degrees Celsius and 15 psi for 15-20 minutes.

Quality improvement commonly uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle for iterative process change.

Normal adult resting heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute; below 60 is bradycardia, above 100 is tachycardia.

Normal adult blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg; 130-139/80-89 mmHg is stage 1 hypertension per ACC/AHA.

Adult respiratory rate normally ranges 12-20 breaths per minute; rates above 20 define tachypnea.

Body mass index equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared; 18.5-24.9 is normal range.

Normal adult oral temperature is approximately 36.5-37.5 degrees Celsius (97.7-99.5 degrees Fahrenheit).

Hypoglycemia is blood glucose below 70 mg/dL; symptoms include diaphoresis, tremor, confusion, and tachycardia.

Hemoglobin A1c of 6.5 percent or higher on two occasions supports a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Standard precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious regardless of known diagnosis.

The SOAP note format orders documentation as Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan.

Differential diagnosis ranks candidate conditions by likelihood, severity, and treatability before confirmatory testing.

Sensitivity is the proportion of true positives detected; high-sensitivity tests are used to rule out disease.

Specificity is the proportion of true negatives detected; high-specificity tests are used to rule in disease.

Positive predictive value depends on disease prevalence in the tested population, not on the test alone.

A sign is an objective finding observed by the clinician; a symptom is a subjective report by the patient.

Red-flag findings such as sudden severe pain, unexplained weight loss, or neurologic deficit warrant urgent referral.

Treatment goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Informed consent requires disclosure of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the consequences of refusal.

Therapeutic index is the ratio of toxic dose to effective dose; a narrow index requires closer monitoring.

Polypharmacy is commonly defined as concurrent use of five or more medications.

The five rights of medication administration are right patient, drug, dose, route, and time.

Clinical practice guidelines grade recommendations by strength of evidence; lower-grade evidence supports weaker recommendations.

A treatment plan documents measurable outcomes and a scheduled reassessment interval.

The four core bioethical principles are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.

Informed consent may be withdrawn by the patient at any time, including after the procedure begins.

Mandatory reporting laws require reporting of suspected child abuse, elder abuse, and certain communicable diseases.

Confidentiality may be breached only where law requires disclosure or where serious harm to a third party is imminent.

Scope of practice defines the tasks a clinician may legally perform under a given license or certification.

Negligence requires four elements: duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.

A HIPAA breach affecting 500 or more individuals requires notification of affected persons within 60 days.

Teach-back confirms understanding by asking the patient to restate instructions in their own words.

Health literacy screening tools include the Newest Vital Sign and the Single Item Literacy Screener.

The patient record is a legal document; entries must be dated, timed, signed, and free of alterations after the fact.

Late entries are added with the current date and time plus a notation of the actual event time, never backdated.

Interpreters should be qualified medical interpreters, not family members, for clinical discussions.

Plain-language patient materials are typically written at a sixth- to eighth-grade reading level.

Release of records generally requires written patient authorization except for treatment, payment, or operations.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration bloodborne pathogens rules require an exposure control plan and hepatitis B vaccination offer.

Sharps containers must be puncture-resistant, closable, leakproof, labeled, and replaced when three-quarters full.

The Safety Data Sheet communicates chemical hazards and required handling precautions for each substance.

Fire response uses the RACE sequence: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish or Evacuate.

Hand hygiene with soap and water is required when hands are visibly soiled; alcohol-based rub is used otherwise.

Sterilization by autoclave uses pressurized steam, typically at 121 degrees Celsius and 15 psi for 15-20 minutes.

Quality improvement commonly uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle for iterative process change.

Normal adult resting heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute; below 60 is bradycardia, above 100 is tachycardia.

Normal adult blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg; 130-139/80-89 mmHg is stage 1 hypertension per ACC/AHA.

Adult respiratory rate normally ranges 12-20 breaths per minute; rates above 20 define tachypnea.

Body mass index equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared; 18.5-24.9 is normal range.

Normal adult oral temperature is approximately 36.5-37.5 degrees Celsius (97.7-99.5 degrees Fahrenheit).

Hypoglycemia is blood glucose below 70 mg/dL; symptoms include diaphoresis, tremor, confusion, and tachycardia.

Hemoglobin A1c of 6.5 percent or higher on two occasions supports a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Standard precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious regardless of known diagnosis.

The SOAP note format orders documentation as Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan.

Differential diagnosis ranks candidate conditions by likelihood, severity, and treatability before confirmatory testing.

Sensitivity is the proportion of true positives detected; high-sensitivity tests are used to rule out disease.

Specificity is the proportion of true negatives detected; high-specificity tests are used to rule in disease.

Positive predictive value depends on disease prevalence in the tested population, not on the test alone.

A sign is an objective finding observed by the clinician; a symptom is a subjective report by the patient.

Red-flag findings such as sudden severe pain, unexplained weight loss, or neurologic deficit warrant urgent referral.

Treatment goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Informed consent requires disclosure of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the consequences of refusal.

Therapeutic index is the ratio of toxic dose to effective dose; a narrow index requires closer monitoring.

Polypharmacy is commonly defined as concurrent use of five or more medications.

The five rights of medication administration are right patient, drug, dose, route, and time.

Clinical practice guidelines grade recommendations by strength of evidence; lower-grade evidence supports weaker recommendations.

A treatment plan documents measurable outcomes and a scheduled reassessment interval.

The four core bioethical principles are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.

Informed consent may be withdrawn by the patient at any time, including after the procedure begins.

Mandatory reporting laws require reporting of suspected child abuse, elder abuse, and certain communicable diseases.

Confidentiality may be breached only where law requires disclosure or where serious harm to a third party is imminent.

Scope of practice defines the tasks a clinician may legally perform under a given license or certification.

Negligence requires four elements: duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.

A HIPAA breach affecting 500 or more individuals requires notification of affected persons within 60 days.

Teach-back confirms understanding by asking the patient to restate instructions in their own words.

Health literacy screening tools include the Newest Vital Sign and the Single Item Literacy Screener.

The patient record is a legal document; entries must be dated, timed, signed, and free of alterations after the fact.

Late entries are added with the current date and time plus a notation of the actual event time, never backdated.

Interpreters should be qualified medical interpreters, not family members, for clinical discussions.

Plain-language patient materials are typically written at a sixth- to eighth-grade reading level.

Release of records generally requires written patient authorization except for treatment, payment, or operations.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration bloodborne pathogens rules require an exposure control plan and hepatitis B vaccination offer.

Sharps containers must be puncture-resistant, closable, leakproof, labeled, and replaced when three-quarters full.

The Safety Data Sheet communicates chemical hazards and required handling precautions for each substance.

Fire response uses the RACE sequence: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish or Evacuate.

Hand hygiene with soap and water is required when hands are visibly soiled; alcohol-based rub is used otherwise.

Sterilization by autoclave uses pressurized steam, typically at 121 degrees Celsius and 15 psi for 15-20 minutes.

Quality improvement commonly uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle for iterative process change.

Normal adult resting heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute; below 60 is bradycardia, above 100 is tachycardia.

Normal adult blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg; 130-139/80-89 mmHg is stage 1 hypertension per ACC/AHA.

Adult respiratory rate normally ranges 12-20 breaths per minute; rates above 20 define tachypnea.

Body mass index equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared; 18.5-24.9 is normal range.

Normal adult oral temperature is approximately 36.5-37.5 degrees Celsius (97.7-99.5 degrees Fahrenheit).

Hypoglycemia is blood glucose below 70 mg/dL; symptoms include diaphoresis, tremor, confusion, and tachycardia.

Hemoglobin A1c of 6.5 percent or higher on two occasions supports a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Standard precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious regardless of known diagnosis.

The SOAP note format orders documentation as Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan.

Differential diagnosis ranks candidate conditions by likelihood, severity, and treatability before confirmatory testing.

Sensitivity is the proportion of true positives detected; high-sensitivity tests are used to rule out disease.

Specificity is the proportion of true negatives detected; high-specificity tests are used to rule in disease.

Positive predictive value depends on disease prevalence in the tested population, not on the test alone.

A sign is an objective finding observed by the clinician; a symptom is a subjective report by the patient.

Red-flag findings such as sudden severe pain, unexplained weight loss, or neurologic deficit warrant urgent referral.

Treatment goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Informed consent requires disclosure of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the consequences of refusal.

Therapeutic index is the ratio of toxic dose to effective dose; a narrow index requires closer monitoring.

Polypharmacy is commonly defined as concurrent use of five or more medications.

The five rights of medication administration are right patient, drug, dose, route, and time.

Clinical practice guidelines grade recommendations by strength of evidence; lower-grade evidence supports weaker recommendations.

A treatment plan documents measurable outcomes and a scheduled reassessment interval.

The four core bioethical principles are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.

Informed consent may be withdrawn by the patient at any time, including after the procedure begins.

Mandatory reporting laws require reporting of suspected child abuse, elder abuse, and certain communicable diseases.

Confidentiality may be breached only where law requires disclosure or where serious harm to a third party is imminent.

Scope of practice defines the tasks a clinician may legally perform under a given license or certification.

Negligence requires four elements: duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.

A HIPAA breach affecting 500 or more individuals requires notification of affected persons within 60 days.

Teach-back confirms understanding by asking the patient to restate instructions in their own words.

Health literacy screening tools include the Newest Vital Sign and the Single Item Literacy Screener.

The patient record is a legal document; entries must be dated, timed, signed, and free of alterations after the fact.

Late entries are added with the current date and time plus a notation of the actual event time, never backdated.

Interpreters should be qualified medical interpreters, not family members, for clinical discussions.

Plain-language patient materials are typically written at a sixth- to eighth-grade reading level.

Release of records generally requires written patient authorization except for treatment, payment, or operations.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration bloodborne pathogens rules require an exposure control plan and hepatitis B vaccination offer.

Sharps containers must be puncture-resistant, closable, leakproof, labeled, and replaced when three-quarters full.

The Safety Data Sheet communicates chemical hazards and required handling precautions for each substance.

Fire response uses the RACE sequence: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish or Evacuate.

Hand hygiene with soap and water is required when hands are visibly soiled; alcohol-based rub is used otherwise.

Sterilization by autoclave uses pressurized steam, typically at 121 degrees Celsius and 15 psi for 15-20 minutes.

Quality improvement commonly uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle for iterative process change.

Normal adult resting heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute; below 60 is bradycardia, above 100 is tachycardia.

Normal adult blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg; 130-139/80-89 mmHg is stage 1 hypertension per ACC/AHA.

Adult respiratory rate normally ranges 12-20 breaths per minute; rates above 20 define tachypnea.

Body mass index equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared; 18.5-24.9 is normal range.

Normal adult oral temperature is approximately 36.5-37.5 degrees Celsius (97.7-99.5 degrees Fahrenheit).

Hypoglycemia is blood glucose below 70 mg/dL; symptoms include diaphoresis, tremor, confusion, and tachycardia.

Hemoglobin A1c of 6.5 percent or higher on two occasions supports a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Standard precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious regardless of known diagnosis.

The SOAP note format orders documentation as Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan.

Differential diagnosis ranks candidate conditions by likelihood, severity, and treatability before confirmatory testing.

Sensitivity is the proportion of true positives detected; high-sensitivity tests are used to rule out disease.

Specificity is the proportion of true negatives detected; high-specificity tests are used to rule in disease.

Positive predictive value depends on disease prevalence in the tested population, not on the test alone.

A sign is an objective finding observed by the clinician; a symptom is a subjective report by the patient.

Red-flag findings such as sudden severe pain, unexplained weight loss, or neurologic deficit warrant urgent referral.

Treatment goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Informed consent requires disclosure of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the consequences of refusal.

Therapeutic index is the ratio of toxic dose to effective dose; a narrow index requires closer monitoring.

Polypharmacy is commonly defined as concurrent use of five or more medications.

The five rights of medication administration are right patient, drug, dose, route, and time.

Clinical practice guidelines grade recommendations by strength of evidence; lower-grade evidence supports weaker recommendations.

A treatment plan documents measurable outcomes and a scheduled reassessment interval.

The four core bioethical principles are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.

Informed consent may be withdrawn by the patient at any time, including after the procedure begins.

Mandatory reporting laws require reporting of suspected child abuse, elder abuse, and certain communicable diseases.

Confidentiality may be breached only where law requires disclosure or where serious harm to a third party is imminent.

Scope of practice defines the tasks a clinician may legally perform under a given license or certification.

Negligence requires four elements: duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.

A HIPAA breach affecting 500 or more individuals requires notification of affected persons within 60 days.

Teach-back confirms understanding by asking the patient to restate instructions in their own words.

Health literacy screening tools include the Newest Vital Sign and the Single Item Literacy Screener.

The patient record is a legal document; entries must be dated, timed, signed, and free of alterations after the fact.

Late entries are added with the current date and time plus a notation of the actual event time, never backdated.

Interpreters should be qualified medical interpreters, not family members, for clinical discussions.

Plain-language patient materials are typically written at a sixth- to eighth-grade reading level.

Release of records generally requires written patient authorization except for treatment, payment, or operations.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration bloodborne pathogens rules require an exposure control plan and hepatitis B vaccination offer.

Sharps containers must be puncture-resistant, closable, leakproof, labeled, and replaced when three-quarters full.

The Safety Data Sheet communicates chemical hazards and required handling precautions for each substance.

Fire response uses the RACE sequence: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish or Evacuate.

Hand hygiene with soap and water is required when hands are visibly soiled; alcohol-based rub is used otherwise.

Sterilization by autoclave uses pressurized steam, typically at 121 degrees Celsius and 15 psi for 15-20 minutes.

Quality improvement commonly uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle for iterative process change.

Normal adult resting heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute; below 60 is bradycardia, above 100 is tachycardia.

Normal adult blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg; 130-139/80-89 mmHg is stage 1 hypertension per ACC/AHA.

Adult respiratory rate normally ranges 12-20 breaths per minute; rates above 20 define tachypnea.

Body mass index equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared; 18.5-24.9 is normal range.

Normal adult oral temperature is approximately 36.5-37.5 degrees Celsius (97.7-99.5 degrees Fahrenheit).

Hypoglycemia is blood glucose below 70 mg/dL; symptoms include diaphoresis, tremor, confusion, and tachycardia.

Hemoglobin A1c of 6.5 percent or higher on two occasions supports a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Standard precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious regardless of known diagnosis.

The SOAP note format orders documentation as Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan.

Differential diagnosis ranks candidate conditions by likelihood, severity, and treatability before confirmatory testing.

Sensitivity is the proportion of true positives detected; high-sensitivity tests are used to rule out disease.

Specificity is the proportion of true negatives detected; high-specificity tests are used to rule in disease.

Positive predictive value depends on disease prevalence in the tested population, not on the test alone.

A sign is an objective finding observed by the clinician; a symptom is a subjective report by the patient.

Red-flag findings such as sudden severe pain, unexplained weight loss, or neurologic deficit warrant urgent referral.

Treatment goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Informed consent requires disclosure of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the consequences of refusal.

Therapeutic index is the ratio of toxic dose to effective dose; a narrow index requires closer monitoring.

Polypharmacy is commonly defined as concurrent use of five or more medications.

The five rights of medication administration are right patient, drug, dose, route, and time.

Clinical practice guidelines grade recommendations by strength of evidence; lower-grade evidence supports weaker recommendations.

A treatment plan documents measurable outcomes and a scheduled reassessment interval.

The four core bioethical principles are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.

Informed consent may be withdrawn by the patient at any time, including after the procedure begins.

Mandatory reporting laws require reporting of suspected child abuse, elder abuse, and certain communicable diseases.

Confidentiality may be breached only where law requires disclosure or where serious harm to a third party is imminent.

Scope of practice defines the tasks a clinician may legally perform under a given license or certification.

Negligence requires four elements: duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.

A HIPAA breach affecting 500 or more individuals requires notification of affected persons within 60 days.

Teach-back confirms understanding by asking the patient to restate instructions in their own words.

Health literacy screening tools include the Newest Vital Sign and the Single Item Literacy Screener.

The patient record is a legal document; entries must be dated, timed, signed, and free of alterations after the fact.

Late entries are added with the current date and time plus a notation of the actual event time, never backdated.

Interpreters should be qualified medical interpreters, not family members, for clinical discussions.

Plain-language patient materials are typically written at a sixth- to eighth-grade reading level.

Release of records generally requires written patient authorization except for treatment, payment, or operations.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration bloodborne pathogens rules require an exposure control plan and hepatitis B vaccination offer.

Sharps containers must be puncture-resistant, closable, leakproof, labeled, and replaced when three-quarters full.

The Safety Data Sheet communicates chemical hazards and required handling precautions for each substance.

Fire response uses the RACE sequence: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish or Evacuate.

Hand hygiene with soap and water is required when hands are visibly soiled; alcohol-based rub is used otherwise.

Sterilization by autoclave uses pressurized steam, typically at 121 degrees Celsius and 15 psi for 15-20 minutes.

Quality improvement commonly uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle for iterative process change.