A nurse is delegating tasks to a team of staff members for a 65-year-old female patient who is post-op day 1 following a total knee replacement. The patient has stable vital signs (BP 130/85, HR 78 bpm, RR 18) and is ambulating with assistance. The nurse is considering delegating tasks to the LPN. Which of the following tasks can the nurse safely delegate to the LPN?
Assisting the patient with ambulation and evaluating pain level.
Administering prescribed medication and monitoring for side effects.
Performing a full head-to-toe assessment and identifying any complications.
Educating the patient on discharge instructions for post-operative care.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: Evaluating pain level requires RN judgment, though assisting with ambulation is within the LPN’s scope. Medication administration is fully delegable, making this incorrect, as it includes an assessment task beyond the LPN’s role in post-operative care.
Choice B reason: Administering prescribed medication and monitoring for side effects is within the LPN’s scope, ensuring safe delegation. This aligns with post-operative care protocols, making it the correct task the nurse can safely delegate to the LPN for the knee replacement patient.
Choice C reason: A full head-to-toe assessment and identifying complications require RN expertise, exceeding LPN scope. Medication administration is appropriate, making this incorrect, as it’s an improper delegation for the nurse to assign to the LPN post-surgery.
Choice D reason: Educating on discharge instructions involves teaching and evaluation, an RN responsibility. Administering medication is within LPN scope, making this incorrect, as it’s not a safe task for the nurse to delegate to the LPN for the patient.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["D","E","F"]
Explanation
Choice A reason: Diarrhea is less common in acute pancreatitis, which typically causes nausea and vomiting. Flank discoloration is a specific sign, making this incorrect, as it’s not a primary finding the nurse would expect in the assessment of acute pancreatitis.
Choice B reason: Black tarry stools indicate upper GI bleeding, not pancreatitis, which causes pain and guarding. Left quadrant pain is typical, making this incorrect, as it’s unrelated to the nurse’s expected findings in a client with suspected acute pancreatitis.
Choice C reason: Hyperactive bowel sounds suggest obstruction, not pancreatitis, which often causes hypoactive sounds due to inflammation. Abdominal tenderness is correct, making this incorrect, as it doesn’t align with the nurse’s anticipated findings in acute pancreatitis assessment.
Choice D reason: Gray, including its reasoning, and a gray-blue flank (Cullen’s or Grey Turner’s sign) indicates severe pancreatitis with hemorrhage. This aligns with severe pancreatitis assessment, making it a correct finding the nurse would expect in suspected acute pancreatitis.
Choice E reason: Abdominal guarding and tenderness result from pancreatic inflammation, common in acute pancreatitis. This aligns with abdominal assessment findings, making it a correct manifestation the nurse would identify in a client with suspected acute pancreatitis.
Choice F reason: Left upper quadrant pain radiating to the back is classic in acute pancreatitis due to pancreatic inflammation. This aligns with clinical assessment, making it a correct finding the nurse would expect in a client with suspected acute pancreatitis.
Correct Answer is ["A","F"]
Explanation
Choice A reason: Sodium of 130 mEq/L indicates hyponatremia, likely from vomiting-induced sodium loss. This aligns with the child’s electrolyte profile and symptoms, making it a correct imbalance the nurse would identify as most likely based on the lab values and clinical presentation.
Choice B reason: Calcium of 9.5 mg/dL is normal, not indicating hypocalcemia. Hyponatremia and metabolic alkalosis match the labs (sodium 130, HCO3 30), making this incorrect, as it does not reflect the child’s electrolyte imbalances from vomiting and irregular pulse.
Choice C reason: Potassium of 3.3 mEq/L is low, not high, ruling out hyperkalemia. Hyponatremia and metabolic alkalosis fit the labs and vomiting history, making this incorrect, as it contradicts the child’s potassium level in the nurse’s assessment of imbalances.
Choice D reason: Potassium of 3.3 mEq/L suggests mild hypokalemia, but hyponatremia (sodium 130) is more prominent with vomiting. Metabolic alkalosis is also evident, making this partially correct but incorrect as the primary imbalance compared to hyponatremia in the child’s profile.
Choice E reason: HCO3 of 30 mEq/L indicates alkalosis, not acidosis, due to vomiting-induced hydrogen ion loss. Hyponatremia and metabolic alkalosis are correct, making this incorrect, as it contradicts the child’s alkalotic state in the nurse’s evaluation of lab values.
Choice F reason: HCO3 of 30 mEq/L indicates metabolic alkalosis, common with vomiting due to loss of acidic gastric contents. This, with hyponatremia, aligns with the child’s labs and symptoms, making it a correct imbalance the nurse would identify in the assessment.
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