A nurse is participating on a quality improvement committee to develop a plan to reduce medication errors at the facility. After formulating a proposed change in medication administration practice, which of the following steps should the committee take next?

Rationale:

A. Assess a client who was transferred from PACU: Initial assessments of post-anesthesia clients require the expertise of an RN due to the potential for rapid clinical changes. This task falls outside the LPN’s scope of practice.

B. Teach a client how to use an incentive spirometer prior to surgery: Client education related to preoperative care is a nursing responsibility requiring critical thinking and evaluation skills, which are typically within the RN’s role, not the LPN's.

C. Insert a urinary catheter for a client: Inserting a urinary catheter is a common, routine procedure that is within the LPN’s scope of practice. It does not require advanced assessment or critical decision-making.

D. Update a client's plan of care: Developing or updating a plan of care involves clinical judgment and ongoing evaluation, which are responsibilities of the RN, not the LPN. LPNs may contribute data but do not revise plans independently.

Rationale:

A. Recommending exercise classes for clients who are on a weight loss program: This represents a preventive health strategy, aiming to reduce the risk of developing future health issues such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes. It promotes wellness but does not restore function after illness or injury.

B. Using x-rays to detect acute respiratory conditions for clients: This is a diagnostic or acute care strategy used to identify and treat an existing condition. It addresses current illness rather than focusing on long-term recovery or regaining function after an intervention.

C. Initiating outpatient physical therapy for clients who had joint surgery: Restorative care focuses on helping clients regain independence and return to their prior level of functioning following an illness, injury, or surgery. Outpatient physical therapy after joint surgery is a classic example of restorative care.

D. Screening blood pressure and cholesterol for clients at a health fair: This falls under preventive care. It helps detect potential health problems early but does not contribute directly to the restoration of function in clients recovering from a health condition.