Clinical Skills for Safer Patient Care – Style sheet (to March 24 – in
progress)
General: See: http://opentextbc.ca/opentextbook/chapter/style-guide/
Spelling
HIV (no need to spell out)
A-D
ABCCs assessment
Bacillus anthracis
carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO)
checklist (closed)
Clostridium difficile (CDI)
COPD (no need to spell out)
CPR (no need to spell out)
data (treat as singular)
I-N
IV
Kardex
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA)
microorganism (not in CanOx, but usual in
medical writing)
multi-resistant
non-sterile (not nonsterile, non sterile, or
unsterile)
E-L
Ebola virus disease (EVD)
extended spectrum beta-lactamase(ESBL)
first aid
Foley catheter
Glasgow Coma Scale
handgrip
hand rub
hand scrub
health care (always open)
health care associated infections (HAIs)
hepatitis A, B
O-S
PPE (always singular, because it stands for
“equipment”)
prepackaged
post-surgical
preventive (not preventative)
re-use
T-Z
vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)
Citation style


Style: APA 5th edition
Reference list at end of each chapter.
Each chapter includes:
1. Introduction Page
1. introductory/background text
2. Learning objectives
1. use LO box
2. bullet points
2. Critical Thinking Exercises
1. Use EX box
2. Relabel “Exercise” as “Critical Thinking Exercises”
3. Questions presented in a numbered list.
4. Included at the end of each chapter section.
3. Summary Page
1. Key Takeaways (use KT box)
2. Suggested Online Resources
1.
2.
3.
4.
use a H2 heading
numbered list (don't use <li> tags; add manually)
space between each listed item
treat introductory/hyperlinked statement as a title with appropriate
capitalization
1. Use a period after this title
2. all titles followed by an explanatory statement
3. Suggested Reading (use H2 heading) – optional
4. Reference list
Appendices
1. Key terms/glossary
1. use KT box
2. relabel as Glossary
3. key terms are in bold and capitalized, and followed by a bold colon in the Glossary
(KT) box.
4. key terms are listed as bullets in Glossary (KT) box
5. no space between entries
2. Checklist summary
3. Additional resources
Punctuation and styling
1. Headings
1. begin with H1: capitalize all main words - if using parsing feature, this is important.
1. Begin H1 headings with capital letters followed by a period (A., B., C....)
2. secondary headings and lower (H2, H3): capitalize all main words
2. Lists
1. numbered lists are used when steps need to be done in a specific order
2. bullets are used when there is no specific order required
Numbers
Follow usual style (see main style guide) with these exceptions:
1. Use numerals for specific instructions in checklists (e.g., “Apply 1 to 2 pumps of
solution…”
2. Use numerals for temperatures, closed up to degree symbol (e.g., 35.8ºC)
3. Blood pressure measurements: 120/80 mmHg
Key terms
1. Key terms will be set in bold the first time they’re mentioned and defined in the chapter body
2. Link key terms in chapter body to its entry in the Glossary
a. first time it’s mentioned in chapter body
b. term will be in bold
Checklists
1. Checklist tables (50-100) will be placed throughout the book.
2. There will be a list of all checklists at the end of the book in an appendix which will be linked
back to the original in the body of the book.
3. Checklist tables should follow this layout style:
a. Checklist table should contain only black text; no coloured text
b. Title for each should include: "Checklist" + number of checklist + colon + title of
checklist
i. title should be centred
c. Disclaimer should be included at the top under the title
d. Column labels should be in bold and centred
e. Citations for table should be added as an in-text reference in the statement
immediately preceding the checklist table, e.g., "To learn the steps for hand washing,
see Checklist 1 (Smith, 2010) below."