In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Accountability” means being answerable for the actions of self and others. “Aggregate” means the sum total of nursing care the client received. “Assessment” means a systematic, dynamic process by which the nurse, through interaction with the client, family, significant others, and other health care providers, collects and analyzes data. “Assign” means the transfer of responsibility from one nurse to another with each nurse having the legal authority to perform the function as permitted by the licensee's scope of practice. “Client” means an individual, family, group, or community under the licensee's direct or indirect care. “Continuity of care” means an interdisciplinary process that: Includes the client, family, and significant other in the development and communication of a coordinated plan of care; and Based on changing needs and available resources, facilitates the client's: Care within a setting, and Transition between settings. “Criteria” means relevant, measurable indicators of the standards of registered nurse practice. “Delegate” means the registered nurse: Invests authority to act on behalf of the registered nurse to an unlicensed person; Authorizes the unlicensed person to augment and supplement the care the registered nurse provides; and Retains the accountability and responsibility for the delegated act. “Evaluation” means the review and analysis of the extent to which the assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, and implementation is effective in resolving the client's health problems or progress toward the attainment of expected outcomes. Health Care Providers. “Health care provider” means an individual with special expertise who provides health care services or assistance to clients. “Health care provider” includes: Nurses; Physicians; Psychologists; Social workers; Nutritionists/dietitians; and Various therapists. “Health care team” means a group of individuals, which includes health care providers and unlicensed personnel, working in collaboration with the client, family, and significant others to achieve identified outcomes. Health Status Data. “Health status data” means information obtained through nursing assessment of the client. “Health status data” includes but is not limited to: Growth and development; Biophysical status; Emotional status; Cultural, religious, and socioeconomic background; Activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living; Patterns of coping; Interaction patterns; Client perception of and degree of satisfaction with health status; Client health goals; Physical, social, emotional, and ecological environments; and Access to and availability of human and material resources. “Implementation” means the process of performing, delegating, assigning, supervising, and coordinating interventions. “Instrumental activities of daily living” means home management skills such as shopping for food and personal items, preparing meals, or handling money. “Multistate licensure privilege” has the meaning set forth in COMAR 10.27.01.01B. “Nursing diagnosis” means a description of the actual or potential, overt or covert health problems which registered nurses are licensed to treat. “Outcomes” means measurable, expected, client-focused goals which translate into observable behaviors. “Plan of care” means designing methods to solve identified problems and to attain outcomes by means of establishing priorities, setting goals, and defining interventions. “Process” means the delivery of care and the fulfillment of the practice standards. “Quality of care” means the degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge. “Recipients of nursing care” means individuals, families, groups, communities, or populations. “Registered nurse (RN)” means an individual who: Is licensed by the Board to practice registered nursing; or Has a multistate licensure privilege to practice registered nursing. “Responsibility” means the obligation and duty to perform. “Scientific principles” means a fundamental belief or reason for action derived from an organized system of study. “Standards of care” means a minimum level of competent nursing practice demonstrated through assessment, analysis, formulation of nursing diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Standards of Registered Nurse Practice. “Standards of registered nurse practice” means the minimum criteria the registered nurse shall adhere to in the practice of registered nursing. “Standards of registered nurse practice” includes both standards of care and standards of professional performance. Standards of Professional Performance. “Standards of professional performance” means a competent level of behavior in the professional role. “Standards of professional performance” includes activities related to: Quality of care; Performance appraisal; Education; Collegiality; Ethics; Collaboration; Research; Resource utilization; Assignment; Delegation and supervision; and Refusal. “Structure” means: The environment in which care is provided; and Resources available to provide care including but not limited to finances, staffing, supplies, equipment, and medical records. “Technology assessment” means a review of drugs, devices, procedures, and systems in relationship to their safety, effectiveness, and economic and social impact.