A nurse is assigning care to an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following tasks should the nurse delegate to the AP?
Educating a client on the use of a blood glucose monitor.
Interpreting a client's vital signs.
Performing a central line dressing change for a client.
Providing postmortem care for a client who has died.
The Correct Answer is D
Assistive personnel (AP), also known as unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), can perform tasks such as assisting with activities of daily living, hygiene, and nutrition, as well as those tasks that support professional nursing assessments ². Providing postmortem care for a client who has died [d] is a task that can be delegated to an AP.
The other options are not tasks that should be delegated to an AP. Educating a client on the use of a blood glucose monitor [a] involves patient education, which is typically the responsibility of a licensed nurse.
Interpreting a client's vital signs [b] involves assessing the client's health status, which is also typically the responsibility of a licensed nurse. Performing a central line dressing change for a client [c] is a complex task that requires specialized knowledge and skills.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The correct answer is Choice C.
Choice A rationale: A client who had a blood transfusion and has a blood pressure of 138/76 mm Hg. This client is stable. The blood pressure is within normal range, indicating that the client is not experiencing a transfusion reaction, which could cause hypotension. Therefore, this client is not the highest priority.
Choice B rationale: A client who has skeletal traction for a femur fracture and reports incisional discomfort of 4 on a scale of 0 to 10. While pain management is an important aspect of client care, a pain level of 4 indicates that the client’s pain is manageable. Therefore, this client is not the highest priority.
Choice C rationale: A client who is 4 hours postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty and has a urinary output of 15 mL/hr. This client is showing signs of oliguria, which could indicate a serious complication such as hypovolemia or acute kidney injury. This client is the highest priority because these complications can lead to further serious issues such as shock or end-organ damage if not addressed promptly.
Correct Answer is ["A","D","E"]
Explanation
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.
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