Question

Difficulty: EasyClient Care Assignments and Collaboration

During the morning huddle, tasks are being distributed among the nursing staff. Which activity should the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) safely accept?

  1. Performing a sterile dressing change on a client's stage 2 pressure injury.Answer
  2. B
    Establishing the initial nursing diagnoses for a client admitted with heart failure.
  3. C
    Providing the primary explanation of risks and benefits for a scheduled liver biopsy.
  4. D
    Analyzing assessment data to determine the underlying cause of a client's sudden hypotension.

Answer

Performing a sterile dressing change on a client's stage 2 pressure injury.
The LPN scope of practice includes performing standard, predictable procedures such as sterile dressing changes on stable clients, as it relies on following established protocols.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the scope of practice for the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
The LPN scope includes reinforcing teaching, administering routine medications, and performing predictable procedures like sterile dressing changes on stable clients.
Understanding professional boundaries is necessary to evaluate the assigned tasks.
2
Evaluate each task against the established LPN scope of practice.
Establishing nursing diagnoses, providing primary risk explanations for consent, and analyzing unstable conditions all require RN or provider-level judgment. Dressing changes do not.
Delegation and task acceptance must strictly adhere to safe practice guidelines.

Key Concept

Scope of Practice and Delegation for the Licensed Practical Nurse
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