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Question

Difficulty: MediumClient Care Assignments and Collaboration

A practical nurse (PN) is reviewing the morning task assignment provided by the charge nurse on a women's health unit. Which delegated task must the practical nurse decline?

  1. Administering an intravenous (IV) push dose of morphine for severe postoperative painAnswer
  2. B
    Witnessing a client's signature on an informed consent form for a scheduled tubal ligation
  3. C
    Reinforcing previous education regarding safe sleep practices for a newborn
  4. D
    Performing focused data collection on a client's fundal height and lochia amount

Answer

Administering an intravenous (IV) push dose of morphine for severe postoperative pain
Administering intravenous (IV) push medications involves rapid systemic drug delivery, requiring advanced comprehensive assessment skills and the ability to immediately manage potential life-threatening adverse reactions. This action requires independent clinical judgment that falls outside the standard legal scope of practice for a practical nurse and must be performed by a registered nurse or provider.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the legal scope of practice for a practical nurse regarding medication administration.
Identify that while a practical nurse can administer many medications, intravenous (IV) push or bolus doses are generally restricted.
IV push medications enter the systemic circulation rapidly, requiring immediate comprehensive assessment and the ability to independently manage sudden, life-threatening adverse reactions.
2
Evaluate the remaining tasks to confirm they fall within the accepted practical nursing scope of practice.
Determine that witnessing a consent signature, reinforcing established education, and performing focused data collection are safe and appropriate delegations.
These tasks involve stable data collection, reinforcement of RN-initiated plans, and procedural witnessing, all of which do not require independent clinical judgment or comprehensive assessment.

Key Concept

Practical Nurse Scope of Practice and Task Delegation
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Topics

Client Care Assignments and Collaboration

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