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Difficulty: EasyClient Care Assignments and Collaboration

A practical nurse (PN) is planning care for a group of stable clients in a long-term care facility. Which of the following tasks are appropriate for the PN to safely delegate to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)? Select all that apply.

  1. Assisting a client with routine morning hygiene and bathingAnswer
  2. Documenting the oral fluid intake of a client on a regular dietAnswer
  3. C
    Evaluating a client's pain level after the administration of oral analgesics
  4. D
    Explaining the steps and potential risks of a scheduled diagnostic test
  5. Transferring a stable client from the bed to a wheelchair using a gait beltAnswer

Answer

The appropriate tasks to delegate to a UAP include assisting with morning hygiene, documenting oral fluid intake, and transferring a stable client using a gait belt.
Unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are trained to perform routine, standard tasks for clients whose conditions are stable and predictable. Assisting with activities of daily living (such as hygiene and bathing), gathering routine data (such as oral fluid intake), and assisting with mobility (such as transferring with a gait belt) are safe and appropriate tasks to delegate because they do not involve clinical assessment, nursing judgment, or independent decision-making.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the scope of practice for unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) in a long-term care setting.
UAPs are permitted to perform routine, standard procedures and activities of daily living for stable clients.
Understanding the limits of a UAP's role is necessary to ensure safe delegation and patient safety.
2
Evaluate each task for elements of nursing judgment, assessment, or teaching.
Evaluating pain responses and explaining diagnostic tests both require licensed knowledge and judgment.
Any task requiring the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, planning, evaluation) or formal patient education cannot be delegated.
3
Select the tasks that involve only standard, unchanging procedures.
Bathing, documenting intake, and using a gait belt for a stable transfer are selected.
These tasks follow predictable steps and carry minimal risk for stable clients.

Key Concept

Delegation to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) is strictly limited to standard, predictable tasks that do not require clinical assessment, nursing judgment, or formal patient education.
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Topics

Client Care Assignments and Collaboration

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