Which inpatient record form is used to transmit the physician's instructions to the nursing staff?

• A. SF 506
• B. SF 539
• C. SF 509
• D. AF Form 3066

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is how the inpatient record channels clear, official instructions from the physician to the nursing staff. This channel needs to be a standardized, legible, time-stamped place in the chart where orders are entered so nurses can carry them out exactly as directed and clinicians can audit what was ordered and done. The form used for this purpose is AF Form 3066. It is specifically designed to capture physician orders and instructions for nursing care in a consistent format, ensuring that medications, treatments, and care tasks are communicated accurately and can be followed and documented.

Other forms in the inpatient record serve different roles. One form is used for the physician’s daily narrative notes and clinical judgments, another for recording a chronological sequence of patient care events, and another provides a broader inpatient summary. While these are important parts of the chart, they do not function as the primary vehicle for transmitting daily orders to the nursing staff.