A practical nurse (PN) arrives for the day shift on a medical-surgical unit and receives the client assignment sheet from the charge nurse. Arrange the following actions the PN should take to ensure safe and legal care in the correct chronological order.
- 1Review the assigned clients' diagnoses, acuities, and scheduled treatments.
- 2Identify that one assigned client requires a blood transfusion, which is outside the PN scope of practice.
- 3Approach the charge nurse promptly to discuss the scope of practice limitation.
- 4Request that the client requiring the blood transfusion be reassigned to a registered nurse (RN).
- 5Accept the modified assignment and proceed to receive the shift handoff report.
Answer
The correct chronological sequence is to first review the assignment, identify the out-of-scope task (blood transfusion), communicate the concern to the charge nurse, request reassignment of that client to an RN, and finally accept the modified, safe assignment.
When receiving a client assignment, the practical nurse (PN) must first systematically review the delegated tasks. If an out-of-scope task is identified, such as a blood transfusion (which requires RN-level assessment and intervention), the PN must immediately notify the delegating charge nurse. The PN must then request that the specific client be reassigned to an RN to ensure client safety and legal compliance. Only after the assignment is modified to fit the PN's legal scope of practice should the PN accept the assignment and begin receiving the shift report.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The practical nurse (PN) is legally accountable for accepting only assignments that fall within their authorized scope of practice and must promptly collaborate with the delegating nurse to resolve any unsafe assignments.