| Task ambiguity | Patient: Do I know which guidelines are applicable for my patients? |
| Status: What part of the guideline had already been performed? What part had not? |
| Plan: What task(s) need to be completed for this patient per guidelines? |
| Timing: When should this task be completed per guidelines? |
| Goal: What is the goal for the patient with respect to a particular guideline? |
| Expectation ambiguity | Standards: What are the acceptable practices in this unit regarding complying with a particular guideline? What is the regular practice? |
| Performance: How is my performance regarding complying with guidelines? How is the performance of the unit? Will compliance be part of my performance evaluation? |
| Feasibility: Is it feasible to follow this guideline in addition to my other responsibilities? |
| Responsibility ambiguity | Role: Who is responsible for completing this step of the guideline? |
| Accountability: Which care provider(s) are accountable for the consequences of deviations from a particular guideline? |
| Authority: Who has the authority to make a decision with regards to applicability of a guideline for a particular patient? |
| Method ambiguity | Procedural: How to complete a particular step of a guideline? |
| Source: Where to find the necessary information on a step of a guideline? |
| Supplies and equipment: Where and how to find the necessary supplies and equipment needed for following a guideline? |
| Help: Who to contact for help with following a guideline? How to contact? |
| Exception ambiguity | Should this patient be excluded from this guideline due to her conditions? |
| What are the exclusionary conditions of this guideline to avoid additional risk to the patient or an affect on the patient’s comfort? |