Question

Difficulty: MediumClient Care Assignments and Collaboration

Match each clinical task with the most appropriate nursing team member and the rationale based on their scope of practice.

  • Developing the initial nursing care plan for a newly admitted clientRequires RN completion due to the need for comprehensive assessment and planning
  • Administering intravenous (IV) push pain medication to a clientRequires RN completion as this medication route is typically outside LPN/VN scope
  • Performing a sterile dressing change on a client's chronic woundAppropriate for LPN/VN assignment as it involves a standard, predictable procedure
  • Assisting a stable, ambulatory client with morning hygieneAppropriate for UAP delegation as it involves basic, routine activities of daily living

Answer

Initial care planning matches with RN comprehensive assessment. IV push medication matches with RN scope restriction. Sterile dressing matches with LPN/VN predictable procedure. Morning hygiene matches with UAP routine activities.
Tasks must be assigned based on the legal scope of practice, the stability of the client, and the complexity of the intervention. The RN must handle initial assessments and high-acuity tasks like IV push medications. The LPN/VN is fully capable of performing sterile procedures and reinforcing established care, while the UAP is responsible for routine ADLs that do not require nursing judgment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the task of developing an initial care plan.
Matches with the RN's responsibility for comprehensive assessment.
The LPN/VN cannot independently develop initial care plans; they can only contribute data to them.
2
Evaluate the administration of IV push medications.
Matches with the RN's scope due to the high risk and route.
Most Nurse Practice Acts restrict LPN/VNs from administering IV push medications due to the rapid systemic effects.
3
Assess the sterile dressing change task.
Matches with the LPN/VN scope.
LPN/VNs are thoroughly trained in sterile technique and can independently manage chronic wounds for stable clients.
4
Review the task of assisting with morning hygiene.
Matches with UAP delegation.
This is a routine activity of daily living that does not require nursing judgment or specialized clinical training.

Key Concept

Delegation and Scope of Practice
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