Which of the following is true regarding "signed and held" orders?

The correct answer states that "signed and held" orders remain held until released by a clinician. This definition is essential in understanding the handling of such orders in a clinical setting. The term "signed" indicates that a clinician has approved the order, while "held" means that the order is not yet active or executed but is waiting for further action.

In practice, a "signed and held" order indicates that the clinician has made a decision but has chosen to delay the initiation of that order for various reasons, such as pending further tests, patient stability, or other clinical conditions. Until a clinician explicitly releases these held orders, they remain inactive and cannot be executed. This mechanism ensures that patient care is carefully managed, allowing clinicians to maintain control over the timing and appropriateness of treatments or interventions.

Considering the other options, "signed and held" orders cannot be executed without clinician approval, and they are not completed orders as they remain on hold. Additionally, while these orders do entail some level of action in terms of management, they specifically require the clinician's release to transition them to an active status.