Final answer:
A Registered Dental Assistant must have proper authorization from a licensed dentist to fill out and sign a patient work excuse, in accordance with the legal and ethical guidelines of their scope of practice. Team members must also orally confirm key safety items before procedures like anesthesia induction.
Step-by-step explanation:
To fill out and sign a patient work excuse, an RDA (Registered Dental Assistant) must have the proper authorization from the supervising dentist. In most dental practices, only a licensed dentist has the legal authority to make decisions regarding patient care, which includes signing off on work excuses. It is important for an RDA to follow the legal and ethical guidelines set forth by their local regulatory body, as performing duties outside of their scope of practice could lead to legal ramifications. Before any procedure, such as the induction of anesthesia, team members, including the nurse and an anesthesia professional, are required to orally confirm a set of critical items for patient safety.