A registered nurse has been leading teams of nursing assistive personnel (NAP) for several years and will soon be leading licensed practical nurses (LPNs) for the first time. In preparation for delegating to these nurses, the RN should:

ask each LPN what tasks he or she is comfortable performing.

delegate the same tasks to the LPNs that the RN normally delegated to NAPS.

consult a decision tree for delegation to unlicensed assistive personnel.

review the practical nurse scope of practice in the jurisdiction where they are working.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A.   While it’s important to consider the comfort and competency of the LPNs, this approach alone does not ensure that the tasks delegated are within their legal scope of practice. It’s essential for the RN to also verify that the tasks align with the LPN’s training and legal scope of practice.
B.   LPNs have a different scope of practice compared to nursing assistive personnel (NAP). They are trained to perform more complex tasks and provide a higher level of care than NAPs. Delegating the same tasks would not take advantage of the LPN's training and could lead to issues related to patient safety and quality of care.
C.   While consulting a decision tree can be a useful tool for delegating tasks to NAPs, it does not apply to LPNs. LPNs have a different scope of practice and require a different framework for delegation, as they can perform nursing tasks that are not within the NAP scope.
D.   This is the most appropriate action for the RN. Understanding the legal scope of practice for LPNs in their specific jurisdiction is crucial for safe and effective delegation. It ensures that the RN delegates tasks that LPNs are qualified to perform, thereby promoting patient safety and adhering to legal standards.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. While it's important to obtain a formal DNR order, the nurse should not delay providing emergency care while waiting for the order. The client's immediate needs take precedence.
B. The risk manager can provide guidance and support, but they cannot provide immediate medical care. The nurse's priority should be to provide emergency care to the client.
C. Even in the absence of a formal DNR order, the nurse has a legal and ethical duty to provide emergency care to a client who is in cardiac or respiratory arrest.
D. This is the most appropriate action. The nurse should immediately call the emergency response team to initiate resuscitation efforts. While waiting for the team to arrive, the nurse should continue to provide basic life support measures, such as CPR and rescue breathing. Once the emergency response team arrives, they will take over the resuscitation efforts and obtain a formal DNR order from the provider if necessary.

A. The nurse is likely not liable because surgery is beyond the nurse's scope of practice. B. The nurse is not likely liable because the signature only specifies that the nurse witnessed the client signing the consent form. C. The nurse may be liable because cosigning the consent form makes the nurse an equal member of the surgical team. D. The nurse is liable because cosigning the consent form confirms that the client fully understood the risks of surgery

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. While it’s true that surgery itself is beyond the nurse's scope of practice, liability can still arise from the actions taken in relation to the consent process. The issue is not about the surgery itself but about the responsibility associated with witnessing the consent.
B. The nurse’s role in this context is to witness the client’s signature, not to guarantee the client’s understanding of the procedure or the risks involved. The witness signature generally indicates that the nurse observed the client signing the document but does not imply that the nurse ensured the client understood all aspects of the surgery.
C. Cosigning a consent form does not make the nurse an equal member of the surgical team in terms of decision-making or responsibilities. The nurse's role as a witness is limited to observing the signing process.
D. The nurse’s signature does not imply that they confirmed the client's understanding of the risks involved. The responsibility for explaining the risks and ensuring the client’s understanding typically falls to the physician or surgeon.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A registered nurse has been leading teams of nursing assistive personnel (NAP) for several years and will soon be leading licensed practical nurses (LPNs) for the first time. In preparation for delegating to these nurses, the RN should:

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse enters a client's room and finds the client pulseless. The family has requested a do-not- resuscitate (DNR) order from the provider, but he has not written the order yet. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The preoperative admitting nurse witnessed a client sign an operative consent form. The nurse then cosigned the same document as a witness. The client suffered an injury during surgery and names the nurse in the suit because the nurse witnessed the consent form. What is the most likely outcome?.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is preparing to administer morphine 4 mg IV bolus to a client who reports pain. Available is morphine 10 mg/mL. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled to have surgery. In preparing the client for surgery, which of the following actions is considered outside the nurse's responsibilities?

A nurse is caring for a client who has sickle cell anemia. The client asks. "Why do I feel so tired and fatigued all of the time?" Which of the following information should the nurse provide?

A nurse plans to leave her scheduled shift an hour early without permission or notification of the charge nurse. The clients in the nurse's assignment are stable. Which of the following legal terms applies to this situation?

Which term best describes sickle cell disease?

The RN overbears the nurses' aide speaking in a harsh tone to a client with early Alzheimer's memory loss. Which statement should the EN make to begin addressing this issue?

A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following abdominal surgery and reports incisional pain. The surgeon has prescribed morphine 4 mg IV bolus every 6 hr as needed. Before administering this medication, the nurse should complete which priority assessment?

A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about reporting suspected child abuse. Which of the following statements indicates an understanding by the newly licensed nurse?