The nurse is providing education to a student nurse regarding delegation. What tasks would be unable to be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)? (Select all that apply)

Choice A Reason:

Lubricate the suction catheter tip with sterile saline is important to ensure smooth insertion and reduce trauma to the tracheal mucosa. However, this is not the first step. Preoxygenation is crucial to prevent hypoxia during the suctioning process.

Choice B Reason:

Perform chest physiotherapy prior to suctioning can help mobilize secretions, making them easier to remove. While beneficial, it is not the immediate first step. Ensuring the client is adequately oxygenated takes precedence.

Choice C Reason:

Hyperventilate the client on 100% oxygen prior to suctioning is correct. This step is essential to prevent hypoxia during suctioning. Suctioning can temporarily reduce oxygen levels, so preoxygenating the client helps maintain adequate oxygenation throughout the procedure.

Choice D Reason:

Suction two to three times with a 60-second pause between passes is a recommended practice to allow the client to recover between suctioning attempts. However, this step follows the initial preoxygenation.

Effective hand hygiene is crucial in preventing the spread of infections in healthcare settings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health organizations provide guidelines on proper hand hygiene techniques to ensure maximum effectiveness.

Choice A Reason:

“Rub soap on hands for 20 seconds.”

This is the correct action for effective hand hygiene. According to the CDC, scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds is essential to remove germs effectively. This duration ensures that all surfaces of the hands, including the backs, between the fingers, and under the nails, are thoroughly cleaned. The CDC recommends singing the “Happy Birthday” song twice as a timer to ensure you scrub for the full 20 seconds.

Choice B Reason:

“Allow hands and arms to dry.”

While drying hands is an important step in hand hygiene, it is not the primary action that makes hand hygiene effective. The focus should be on the thorough scrubbing and cleaning of the hands. After washing, hands should be dried using a clean towel or air dryer to prevent the transfer of germs from wet hands.

Choice C Reason:

“Hold the hands higher than the elbows.”

This technique is often used in surgical hand antisepsis to prevent water from running from the hands down to the elbows, potentially contaminating the hands again. However, for routine hand hygiene, this is not necessary. The primary focus should be on the thorough washing and scrubbing of the hands.

Choice D Reason:

“Adjust the water temperature to feel hot.”

The temperature of the water is less important than the act of scrubbing itself. The CDC states that hands can be washed with either warm or cold water. The key is to use soap and scrub all surfaces of the hands for at least 20 seconds. Hot water can actually be harsh on the skin and is not required for effective hand hygiene.