A nurse asks an assistive personnel (AP) to take a specimen to the laboratory, and the AP refuses. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

The correct answers are Choices A, D, and E.

Choice A rationale:Providing postmortem care to a client who has just passed away is a task that can be delegated to assistive personnel (AP). Postmortem care involves cleaning and preparing the body after death and is not a task that requires the specialized skills or judgement of a nurse. It is important to note that while the physical task of postmortem care can be delegated, the nurse is still responsible for providing emotional support and information to the family, coordinating with the morgue or funeral home, and completing any required documentation.

Choice B rationale:Instructing a client about the use of a spirometer is not a task that should be delegated to assistive personnel. Patient education requires assessment and evaluation of the patient’s understanding, which are nursing responsibilities. A spirometer is a medical device used to measure lung function and is often used after surgery to help prevent complications like pneumonia. Proper use of the spirometer is crucial to its effectiveness, so it is important that the instruction is clear and understood by the patient.

Choice C rationale:Suctioning a client’s newly inserted tracheostomy is not a task that should be delegated to assistive personnel. Tracheostomy care, especially suctioning, requires specialized skills and knowledge, as well as the ability to assess the patient’s respiratory status. Improper suctioning can cause trauma to the trachea, hypoxia, or infection. Therefore, this task should be performed by a nurse or other licensed healthcare professional.

Choice D rationale:Transferring a client to radiology for x-rays is a task that can be delegated to assistive personnel. This task involves physical assistance and does not require specialized nursing skills or judgement. However, the nurse should provide the AP with any necessary information about the patient’s condition, mobility, and any precautions that need to be taken during the transfer.

Choice E rationale:Performing a simple dressing change on a client’s arm is a task that can be delegated to assistive personnel. This task involves changing the bandages on a wound, which is a task that does not require specialized nursing skills or judgement. However, the nurse should ensure that the AP has been properly trained in dressing changes, understands the importance of infection control, and knows when to report any changes in the wound’s appearance.

The correct answer is choice C. The nurse does not cause any harm to the client.

Choice A rationale:

While having a license to practice nursing in the state where the event occurred is important for professional practice, it is not a specific requirement for the Good Samaritan law to provide civil immunity.The Good Samaritan law generally protects individuals who provide emergency care in good faith, regardless of their licensure status in that particular state.

Choice B rationale:

Basic life support (BLS) certification is a valuable credential for performing CPR and other emergency procedures. However, the Good Samaritan law does not require the responder to have BLS certification to be protected.The law focuses more on the intent and actions of the responder rather than their specific certifications.

Choice C rationale:

The primary criterion for the Good Samaritan law to provide civil immunity is that the responder does not cause harm to the client.The law is designed to protect those who act in good faith to provide emergency care without gross negligence or willful misconduct. If the nurse’s actions are reasonable and do not result in harm, they are typically protected under the Good Samaritan law.

Choice D rationale:

Remaining with the client when traveling to the hospital in an ambulance is not a requirement for Good Samaritan law protection. The law applies to the immediate emergency care provided at the scene.Once professional medical personnel take over, the Good Samaritan law’s protection generally ends.