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Difficulty: MediumClient Care Assignments and Collaboration

A registered nurse (RN) and a practical nurse (PN) are providing team nursing for a group of clients on a gastrointestinal surgical unit. Which of the following client care tasks are most appropriate for the RN to delegate to the PN? Select all that apply.

  1. Administering a scheduled continuous enteral tube feeding to a client with a history of dysphagiaAnswer
  2. B
    Providing the initial discharge teaching for a client who has a newly created ascending colostomy
  3. C
    Evaluating a client's hemodynamic response following the administration of an intravenous (IV) push analgesic
  4. Performing a routine sterile dressing change for a client with a healing midline abdominal incisionAnswer
  5. E
    Explaining the potential risks and complications of an upcoming procedure prior to witnessing the consent signature
  6. Inserting a prescribed indwelling urinary catheter for a client experiencing postoperative urinary retentionAnswer

Answer

The practical nurse (PN) can safely administer continuous enteral tube feedings, perform sterile dressing changes, and insert indwelling urinary catheters.
The correct selections represent tasks that are firmly within the legal scope of practice for a practical nurse (PN). PNs are qualified to care for stable clients with predictable outcomes. This includes administering scheduled enteral tube feedings, performing sterile procedures such as routine dressing changes on healing incisions, and inserting indwelling urinary catheters. These tasks rely on established protocols and do not require the comprehensive assessment, initial teaching, or independent clinical judgment that are exclusive to the registered nurse (RN).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the client care tasks that fall within the legal scope of practice for a practical nurse (PN).
Enteral feedings, sterile dressings, and catheterizations are recognized as standard PN skills.
PNs are educated and licensed to perform these stable, predictable procedures for clients whose conditions are not critical or highly complex.
2
Identify tasks that require the advanced knowledge, assessment skills, or teaching capabilities of a registered nurse (RN) or healthcare provider.
Initial teaching, evaluation of IV push medications, and explaining surgical risks are outside the PN scope.
These tasks require comprehensive assessment, advanced clinical judgment, or fall strictly under the provider's legal duty for informed consent.

Key Concept

Practical Nurse (PN) Scope of Practice and Delegation Principles
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Client Care Assignments and Collaboration

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