A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a school-age child following an incidence of physical abuse. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

A. Insert an NG tube for a client who requires enteral feedings: Inserting an NG tube requires nursing knowledge, assessment skills, and sterile technique. This is beyond the scope of practice for assistive personnel and must be performed by a licensed nurse.

B. Transfer a client to physical therapy: Transferring stable clients is within the role of assistive personnel, especially when proper transfer techniques are used and the client does not require complex assessments during the transfer.

C. Obtain a client's vital signs every 4 hr: Monitoring and recording routine vital signs is a standard task for assistive personnel. The nurse retains responsibility for interpreting the findings and acting on abnormal values.

D. Instruct a client on the use of an incentive spirometer: Teaching or reinforcing client education requires nursing judgment and is not within the scope of practice for assistive personnel. This task should be performed by a licensed nurse.

E. Record a client's intake after each meal: Documenting intake, including the amount consumed, is appropriate for assistive personnel. The nurse will then interpret this data as part of the client’s fluid or nutritional status monitoring.

A. A client who delivered a full-term newborn who has suspected celiac disease:While this client may have health-related concerns, there is no psychological or behavioral risk factor indicating a likelihood of infant abduction.

B. A client who delivered a preterm newborn who has cardiac anomalies:Although this client may be under stress due to the baby’s health condition, there is no known link between such situations and increased risk for abduction.

C. A client who recently experienced the loss of a pregnancy:Clients who have experienced a fetal loss may be at heightened emotional risk and have been identified as posing a potential risk for infant abduction due to grief, denial, or unresolved trauma. This population warrants close monitoring.

D. A client who is experiencing complications related to preeclampsia:Although preeclampsia requires close medical management, it does not correlate with behaviors associated with infant abduction risk.