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Question

Difficulty: EasyClient Care Assignments and Collaboration

Following the shift handover on a clinical unit, the healthcare team divides the required care activities. Which of the following tasks is within the legal scope of practice for the practical nurse (PN) to safely accept and perform?

  1. Administering a scheduled oral dose of an analgesic to a client with chronic back painAnswer
  2. B
    Completing the comprehensive admission assessment for a newly arrived client
  3. C
    Administering a bolus intravenous (IV) push medication for severe acute pain
  4. D
    Explaining the specific risks and alternative treatments of a scheduled surgery before witnessing the consent

Answer

Administering a scheduled oral dose of an analgesic to a client with chronic back pain
The correct action is administering a scheduled oral medication to a stable client. This is a routine, predictable task that relies on standardized procedures and falls directly within the established legal scope of practice for a practical nurse (PN).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze each provided task against the established national guidelines for the practical nurse (PN) scope of practice.
Identify that oral medication administration is permitted, while comprehensive assessments, IV push medications, and providing informed consent explanations are not.
Safe assignment acceptance requires the PN to recognize the boundaries of their legal scope, which prioritizes care for stable clients and predictable outcomes.

Key Concept

Practical Nurse (PN) Scope of Practice and Task Acceptance
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Client Care Assignments and Collaboration

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