AMB-BC flashcards

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

Normal adult heart rate

For most adults at rest, the normal heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute; rates outside this range should be evaluated in clinical context.

Body mass index formula

BMI equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared; the alternate formula is 703 times weight in pounds divided by height in inches squared.

Orthostatic hypotension criteria

Orthostatic hypotension is a systolic blood pressure drop of at least 20 mm Hg or a diastolic drop of at least 10 mm Hg within three minutes of standing.

Six medication rights

The core medication rights are right patient, drug, dose, route, time, and documentation; many settings also include right reason and right response.

Anaphylaxis immediate actions

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction with airway swelling, wheeze, or hypotension; stop the trigger, call emergency services, and give epinephrine per protocol.

Standard precautions scope

Standard precautions apply to every patient regardless of diagnosis and include hand hygiene, gloves, gown, mask, eye protection, and safe handling of sharps and body fluids.

SBAR communication

SBAR is a structured handoff tool: Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation; it organizes information so the receiver can act quickly and safely.

Warm handoff

A warm handoff is a live, interactive transfer of care between providers, often in person or by phone, that allows questions and confirms shared understanding.

Medication reconciliation

Medication reconciliation is a formal process comparing a patient's pre-admission medication list with current orders at admission, transfer, and discharge to prevent errors.

Teach-back method

Teach-back asks the patient or caregiver to explain the care plan in their own words; the clinician re-teaches any gaps until understanding is confirmed.

Discharge planning start

Discharge planning should begin at admission and identify the patient's needs for home care, equipment, transportation, follow-up, medications, and caregiver support.

Four ethics principles

The four core health care ethics principles are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice; they guide decisions when values or interests conflict.

Informed consent elements

Valid informed consent requires patient capacity, disclosure of risks and benefits, understanding, voluntariness, and authorization; the patient may withdraw consent at any time.

Just culture approach

Just culture distinguishes human error from at-risk behavior and reckless conduct; it encourages reporting and fixes systems while holding reckless behavior accountable.

Mandatory reporting duty

Clinicians must report suspected abuse, neglect, or certain communicable diseases to designated authorities as required by state law and employer policy.

Scope of practice limit

Scope of practice is defined by state law, licensure, and employer policy; a clinician must not perform or delegate tasks outside that legal and professional boundary.

Health literacy universal precautions

Health literacy universal precautions means assuming all patients may struggle with health information and using plain language, teach-back, and easy-to-use materials for everyone.

Plain language key points

Plain language uses short sentences, common words, and a limited number of key points, usually three to five, to make health information easier to understand and act on.

Motivational interviewing OARS

OARS stands for open questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries; these communication skills support patient-centered behavior change conversations and reduce resistance.

Stages of change

The stages of change are precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse; interventions should match the patient's current stage.

Three learning domains

Patient learning occurs in cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains; education should address knowledge, skills, and attitudes or confidence as needed.

PDSA cycle

PDSA is a rapid-cycle improvement method: Plan a change, Do it on a small scale, Study the results, and Act by adopting, adapting, or abandoning the change.

Root cause analysis

Root cause analysis is a structured review after a sentinel event that focuses on system failures and contributing factors rather than blaming an individual.

FMEA risk priority number

In failure modes and effects analysis, the risk priority number equals severity times occurrence times detection; higher scores identify failure modes needing priority action.

Structure process outcome

Quality measures may assess structure, such as resources; process, such as adherence to a protocol; or outcomes, such as infection rates or patient functional status.

Sentinel event definition

A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving death, serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof, requiring immediate investigation and response.

Near miss definition

A near miss is an unplanned event that did not reach the patient or cause harm but had the potential to do so; reporting helps prevent future errors.

HIPAA Security Rule safeguards

The HIPAA Security Rule requires administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect electronic protected health information, including access controls, encryption, and audit trails.

Minimum necessary standard

The minimum necessary standard requires using or disclosing only the amount of protected health information needed to accomplish the intended purpose, except for treatment disclosures.

EHR error correction

In an electronic health record, correct errors with a dated addendum or correction note; never delete or alter the original entry, and retain the audit trail.

HL7 and FHIR

HL7 and FHIR are health information exchange standards; FHIR uses modern web-based resources to support interoperability between electronic health record systems and applications.

Telehealth documentation

Telehealth documentation should record the modality, patient and clinician locations, consent, participants, clinical findings, and recommendations, just like an in-person visit.