Final answer:
Standing orders and protocols describe off-line medical direction, which refers to medical orders or protocols that do not require real-time communication with a physician.
Step-by-step explanation:
Standing orders and protocols describe off-line medical direction. An off-line medical direction refers to medical orders or protocols that have been established in advance and do not require real-time communication with a physician. Standing orders are instructions that allow healthcare professionals to initiate specific actions based on predetermined criteria or protocols. For example, a standing order may authorize a nurse to administer a certain medication if a patient's blood pressure falls below a certain level. Protocols are similar but often more complex and can include a range of actions and decision-making processes.