A nurse delegates tasks to a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and an assistive personnel (AP).
When admitting a client who is experiencing acute liver failure and who has ascites and an NG tube, which of the following tasks is most appropriate for the nurse to delegate to the LPN?
Insert an indwelling catheter if the client has not voided in 3 hr.
Obtain the abdominal girth now and every 4 hr.
Assess and document the level of consciousness every hour.
Measure the amount of gastric drainage every 2 hr.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Inserting an indwelling catheter is within the scope of practice for an LPN and requires technical skill and training that an LPN possesses. This task is appropriate for delegation because it does not require the RN's direct clinical judgment or assessment at the time of insertion. The LPN can perform this procedure based on a specific directive from the RN.
B. Obtaining the abdominal girth is a task that involves assessment and this cannot be delegated by the RN to an LPN.
C. Assessing and documenting the level of consciousness involves critical thinking and
interpretation of assessment findings, making it more appropriate for the registered nurse to perform.
D. Measuring gastric drainage is a task that the LPN can perform, but it is less critical compared to the insertion of an indwelling catheter in this scenario. The RN should prioritize delegating tasks to the LPN that require their specific skills, such as catheter insertion, while reserving simpler tasks for the AP.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. A child who has a forehead wound that is bleeding copiously: While bleeding wounds require attention, they are not immediately life-threatening compared to other injuries described.
B. A child who has a compound fracture of the femur and is crying in pain: While painful, a
femur fracture is not typically immediately life-threatening unless it is causing severe bleeding or compromising circulation.
C. A child who reports diplopia and nausea and was unconscious at the scene but is now awake:
These symptoms suggest potential head trauma and require urgent evaluation to assess for intracranial injuries.
D. A child who has several missing permanent teeth and a swollen, ecchymotic upper lip: These injuries, while concerning, are not immediately life-threatening compared to the potential head injury described in option C.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Set up the sterile field 7.6 cm (3 in) below waist level - While it's important to maintain a sterile field, the specific height mentioned is not a standard requirement.
B. Hold the bottle of sterile solution with the palm over the label while pouring - This is
incorrect because it increases the risk of contaminating the solution by touching the label.
C. Place the sterile items within 1 cm (0.4 in) of the edge of the sterile border - This is the correct action as it ensures that sterile items are easily accessible without reaching over the sterile field, minimizing the risk of contamination.
D. Place the lid of a bottle of sterile solution within the sterile field - Placing the lid inside the sterile field increases the risk of contamination, as the lid is not considered sterile.
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