With appropriate instruction, which tasks are appropriate to delegate to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)? Select all that apply.

A. Administer a PRN inhaler medication and auscultate breath sounds: The immediate priority in this situation is to correct hypoxemia. Auscultation and PRN medication administration are important but secondary to ensuring adequate oxygenation, as oxygen saturation of 86% indicates severe hypoxemia that requires rapid intervention.

B. Immediately notify the provider of the client's oxygenation status: Notifying the provider is important for collaborative management, but the nurse’s first action must address the urgent physiologic threat—low oxygen saturation. Waiting for instructions without intervening could further compromise tissue oxygenation.

C. Titrate the oxygen down to 3 liters and closely monitor the client's response: Reducing oxygen in a patient with worsening hypoxemia could exacerbate oxygen deprivation. Although COPD patients are at risk for CO₂ retention, the immediate concern is life-threatening hypoxemia, and decreasing oxygen would be unsafe.

D. Titrate the oxygen up to 5 liters and closely monitor the client's response: Increasing supplemental oxygen is the immediate priority to raise oxygen saturation and prevent hypoxic injury. Titrating carefully while monitoring ensures that oxygenation improves without unnecessarily exceeding safe limits for a patient with COPD, balancing hypoxemia correction and risk of CO₂ retention.

A. Documentation should express the nurse's opinion: Nursing documentation must remain objective and based on observable, measurable data rather than personal opinions or interpretations. Subjective opinions can introduce bias, reduce clarity, and may have legal implications if the record is used in clinical review or litigation.

B. Documentation should include abbreviations when possible: Use of abbreviations is restricted to those approved by the facility to prevent misinterpretation and medication errors. Many abbreviations are prohibited due to safety concerns, so indiscriminate use can compromise clarity and patient safety.

C. Documentation should be complete: Comprehensive documentation ensures that all relevant aspects of patient care, including assessments, interventions, and responses, are clearly recorded. Complete records support continuity of care among healthcare providers and reduce the risk of omissions that could negatively impact patient outcomes.

D. Documentation should be factual: Documentation must be based on objective data, such as vital signs, observed behaviors, and direct patient statements. Factual recording ensures reliability, supports clinical decision-making, and provides a legally sound account of the care delivered.

E. Documentation should be accurate: Accuracy is essential to ensure that all recorded information reflects the patient’s true condition and the care provided. Errors in documentation can lead to inappropriate interventions, compromised patient safety, and legal liability for healthcare providers.