A charge nurse is creating assignments for the next shift for several nurses and one of the nurses is pregnant. Which of the following clients should the charge nurse assign to a nurse who is not pregnant?

A. The wall suction setting does not directly indicate the functioning of the NG tube.

B. Greenish-yellow drainage fluid may indicate the presence of bile in the stomach, suggesting

that the NG tube is not adequately draining gastric contents, which could indicate a malfunction.

C. An aspirate pH of 3 indicates gastric acidity, which is expected in the stomach and does not necessarily indicate a problem with NG tube function.

D. Abdominal rigidity may suggest intra-abdominal pathology but does not specifically indicate NG tube dysfunction.

A. Inserting an indwelling catheter involves an invasive procedure and assessment of urinary output and client status, which falls within the RN’s scope of practice in a high-risk client such as one with acute liver failure.

B. Obtaining abdominal girth requires assessment skills and interpretation for changes in ascites, which is more appropriate for the RN to ensure accurate monitoring.

C. Assessing and documenting level of consciousness is a critical assessment, especially in liver failure where hepatic encephalopathy is a risk. This is within the RN’s responsibility because changes can be subtle and require immediate intervention.

D. Measuring the amount of gastric drainage every 2 hours is a stable, routine task that follows established parameters and does not require advanced assessment skills. It is within the LPN’s scope and can be safely delegated, with the RN overseeing interpretation of any abnormal findings.