DHA Allied Health Exam flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Two-patient identifier rule

Before any procedure, specimen collection, or medication, verify two independent identifiers, typically full name plus date of birth or medical record number; never use room number alone.

Sentinel event definition

An unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof, that signals an urgent need for investigation and response.

Root cause analysis purpose

A retrospective, systems-focused method used after a sentinel event to identify underlying process failures and contributing factors rather than blaming an individual.

Pressure injury Stage 1

Intact skin with a localized area of non-blanchable erythema that may feel warmer, cooler, firmer, or softer than adjacent tissue; no open wound is present.

Time-out element

A brief, active pause immediately before an invasive procedure in which the team verbally confirms patient, procedure, site, and consent, resolving discrepancies before starting.

Chain of infection links

Six sequential links: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host; interrupting any link prevents transmission.

Standard precautions scope

Infection control practices applied to every patient regardless of diagnosis, including hand hygiene, gloves, gown, mask and eye protection, and safe sharps handling.

Airborne precautions requirements

Used for tuberculosis, measles, and varicella; requires an N95 or higher respirator and a negative-pressure room with the door closed and air exchanged per facility standard.

When soap and water required

Hands must be washed with soap and water, not alcohol rub, when visibly soiled or after caring for patients with C. difficile or norovirus, because alcohol does not destroy spores.

Alcohol-based hand rub rule

Preferred for routine hand hygiene when hands are not visibly soiled; apply enough to cover all surfaces and rub until dry, typically 20 to 30 seconds.

Sharps container fill limit

Puncture-resistant sharps containers are replaced when about three-quarters full; overfilling risks needlestick injury during disposal and violates safety practice.

Autonomy principle

The ethical obligation to respect a competent patient's right to make informed decisions about their own care, including the right to refuse recommended treatment.

Informed consent elements

Valid consent requires patient capacity, voluntariness, disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives, and comprehension; it is documented before the procedure is performed.

Scope of practice meaning

The activities a health professional is legally authorized and competent to perform, defined by licensure law, facility policy, and demonstrated competence.

Confidentiality exception examples

Patient information may be disclosed without consent when authorized, legally mandated (reportable diseases, suspected abuse), or necessary to prevent imminent serious harm.

Durable power of attorney for health care

A legal document designating a surrogate decision-maker to make healthcare choices if the patient loses decision-making capacity; distinct from a living will.

Adult normal respiratory rate

Resting respiratory rate in a healthy adult is typically 12 to 20 breaths per minute; rates outside this range are documented and reported as abnormal.

Orthostatic hypotension criteria

A drop of at least 20 mmHg systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic within three minutes of standing from supine, often with dizziness, indicating fall risk.

Venipuncture order of draw

Blood cultures first, then light blue citrate, serum red or gold, green heparin, lavender EDTA, and gray oxalate/fluoride, to prevent additive cross-contamination.

Pulse oximetry limitation

Readings may be falsely normal or unreliable with poor peripheral perfusion, motion artifact, nail polish, or carbon monoxide exposure, so correlate with the clinical picture.

Blood pressure cuff sizing

The bladder should encircle about 80 percent of arm circumference; a cuff that is too small falsely elevates the reading, and one too large falsely lowers it.

Specimen labeling requirement

Specimens are labeled at the bedside in the patient's presence with two identifiers and the collector's information; unlabeled or mislabeled specimens are rejected.

Anatomical position

The reference stance: standing erect, face forward, arms at the sides with palms facing forward, and feet flat and parallel; all directional terms assume this position.

Sagittal versus coronal plane

The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right portions; the coronal (frontal) plane divides it into anterior and posterior portions.

Cardiac conduction sequence

Impulses travel SA node, AV node, bundle of His, bundle branches, then Purkinje fibers; the SA node normally paces the heart at 60 to 100 beats per minute.

Normal arterial blood gas values

Reference ranges: pH 7.35 to 7.45, PaCO2 35 to 45 mmHg, bicarbonate 22 to 26 mEq/L, and PaO2 80 to 100 mmHg on room air.

Abdominopelvic quadrant contents

RUQ contains liver and gallbladder, LUQ stomach and spleen, RLQ appendix and cecum, LLQ sigmoid colon; used to localize pain and findings.

Sliding filament mechanism

Calcium binds troponin, tropomyosin moves aside, and myosin heads cross-bridge with actin, pulling filaments to shorten the sarcomere using ATP.

SBAR handoff structure

A structured communication format: Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation, delivered in that order to transfer information concisely and reduce omissions.

Closed-loop communication

The sender gives a directive, the receiver repeats it back, and the sender confirms accuracy; used for critical orders to prevent misunderstanding.

Teach-back method

A validated technique in which the patient explains information or demonstrates a skill in their own words, confirming understanding rather than asking if they understood.

Interpreter use requirement

Qualified medical interpreters are required for patients with limited English proficiency; family members, especially minors, should not be used as interpreters.