A nurse is providing discharge teaching about home care of a surgical incision to a client who speaks a different language from the nurse.
The nurse is communicating with the client using an interpreter. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

The correct answer is choiceD. Remind the client to use the incentive spirometer.

Choice A rationale:

Observing the position of the suspended weight requires clinical judgment to ensure proper alignment and effectiveness of the traction, which is beyond the scope of practice for assistive personnel.

Choice B rationale:

Checking the client’s pedal pulse on the right leg involves assessing circulation, which is a clinical task that should be performed by a licensed nurse.

Choice C rationale:

Asking the client to describe her pain involves pain assessment, which requires clinical judgment and should be done by a nurse.

Choice D rationale:

Reminding the client to use the incentive spirometer is a task that can be delegated to assistive personnel as it involves reinforcing previously taught instructions without requiring clinical judgment.

B. Review the skill level and qualifications of each AP.

Before delegating tasks, the nurse should assess the skill level and qualifications of each AP to ensure they have the necessary knowledge and training to perform the assigned tasks safely and effectively.

D. Communicate appropriate tasks to the APs with specific expectations.

The nurse should clearly communicate the tasks to be delegated to each AP. This includes providing specific instructions, expectations, and any necessary information to ensure the APs understand what is expected of them and can perform the tasks correctly.

A. Monitor progress of task completion with each AP.

Once the tasks are assigned, the nurse should periodically check in with each AP to monitor the progress of task completion. This allows the nurse to provide support, answer questions, and ensure that tasks are being performed as expected.

C. Evaluate the APs' performance of each task.

After the tasks are completed, the nurse should evaluate the APs' performance of each task. This evaluation helps identify any areas for improvement, additional training needs, and overall competency of the APs.

Delegating tasks to assistive personnel is an essential aspect of nursing practice. Following this sequence of steps helps ensure that tasks are delegated appropriately and that the care provided is safe, efficient, and aligned with the APs' capabilities. Regular communication and feedback are essential to effective task delegation and teamwork within the healthcare setting.