Colorado Nursing Home Administrators (NHA) Practice Exam

Who should countersign the telephone orders (TO's)?

1. Administrator

2. Head Nurse

3. Physician

4. Resident Care Coordinator

The correct answer is: Physician

A countersignature is typically a secondary signature on a document that serves as proof of approval by an authorized individual. In the context of telephone orders (TO's), a physician should be the one to countersign the orders. This is because physicians are the primary healthcare providers responsible for prescribing and overseeing patient care. The other options listed, such as an administrator or head nurse, may have administrative authority or play a role in managing care, but they do not have the medical authority to approve and oversee patient treatment plans. The resident care coordinator may also have managerial responsibilities, but their role is typically more focused on coordinating care and oversight rather than directly providing and approving medical treatments. Therefore, the physician should be the one to countersign the TO's to ensure proper medical authorization and accountability.