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Question

Difficulty: MediumClient Care Assignments and Collaboration

A charge nurse on a general medical-surgical unit is distributing morning assignments to the nursing staff. Which of the following tasks fall within the legal scope of practice for a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and can be safely assigned? (Select all that apply)

  1. Reinforcing previous dietary education for a client with congestive heart failureAnswer
  2. Inserting an indwelling urinary catheter for a client experiencing urinary retentionAnswer
  3. C
    Administering an intravenous (IV) push dose of metoprolol to a client with new-onset atrial fibrillation
  4. D
    Formulating the initial plan of care for a client admitted with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  5. Administering scheduled subcutaneous insulin to a client with type 2 diabetes mellitusAnswer
  6. F
    Obtaining informed consent by explaining the risks and benefits of an upcoming colonoscopy to a client

Answer

The tasks appropriate for the LPN are reinforcing previous dietary education, inserting an indwelling urinary catheter, and administering scheduled subcutaneous insulin.
The LPN scope of practice safely encompasses providing routine, predictable care to stable clients. This includes performing standard procedures like inserting urinary catheters, administering oral, intramuscular, and subcutaneous medications (such as insulin), and reinforcing teaching that has already been initiated by a registered nurse.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze each proposed task to determine the level of clinical judgment and nursing assessment required.
Tasks involving initial assessment, care planning, unstable patients, IV push medications, and explaining surgical risks require RN or provider-level licensure.
Safe delegation relies on matching the task's complexity to the clinician's legal scope of practice.
2
Identify the tasks that involve predictable outcomes and standard, routine procedures for stable clients.
Reinforcing prior education, inserting a urinary catheter, and administering subcutaneous insulin are identified as appropriate.
These interventions rely on established protocols and fall squarely within the LPN scope of practice.

Key Concept

Delegation and LPN Scope of Practice
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Topics

Client Care Assignments and Collaboration

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