A nurse is planning care for clients.
Which of the following tasks can the nurse delegate to an assistive personnel (AP)?

The correct answer is Choice D: Obtaining a blood pressure for a client who is to be discharged later in the day.

Choice A rationale:

Providing tracheostomy care requires specialized training and assessment skills, which are beyond the scope of practice for assistive personnel (AP).

Choice B rationale:

Assessing a client who just returned from surgery involves clinical judgment and decision-making, which are responsibilities of a licensed nurse, not assistive personnel.

Choice C rationale:

Teaching a client how to use an incentive spirometer requires patient education skills and the ability to assess the client's understanding, which are tasks for a licensed nurse.

Choice D rationale:

Obtaining a blood pressure is a routine task that can be delegated to assistive personnel, as it does not require advanced clinical judgment or specialized training.

The correct answer is Choice D: Palliative care can be provided while a client is receiving curative treatment.

Choice A rationale:

The goal of palliative care is not to cure an acute illness but to provide relief from symptoms and improve the quality of life for clients with serious illnesses.

Choice B rationale:

Palliative care is not restricted to clients who are terminally ill. It can be provided to anyone with a serious illness, regardless of the stage of the disease or the need for other therapies.

Choice C rationale:

Palliative care is not limited to clients in a healthcare facility. It can be provided in various settings, including at home, in outpatient clinics, and in long-term care facilities.

Choice D rationale:

Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments. It is designed to improve the quality of life for both the patient and the family by addressing physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs.