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Question

Difficulty: MediumClient Care Assignments and Collaboration

A practical nurse and a registered nurse are reviewing the daily census on a pediatric medical unit to determine task distribution. Which of the following assignments is within the scope of practice for the practical nurse to accept?

  1. A
    Providing initial feeding technique instructions to the parents of an infant with a newly repaired cleft palate
  2. B
    Formulating a comprehensive discharge care plan for a school-aged child recently diagnosed with asthma
  3. Performing a routine sterile dressing change on a preschooler's healing abdominal incisionAnswer
  4. D
    Explaining the surgical risks and benefits to the parents of a toddler prior to a scheduled procedure

Answer

Performing a routine sterile dressing change on a preschooler's healing abdominal incision
The practical nurse scope of practice includes performing standard technical skills, such as routine sterile dressing changes, on stable clients. This task involves following established protocols and does not require complex assessment or initial teaching, making it a safe and appropriate assignment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Review the principles of safe assignment and the standard scope of practice for a practical nurse (PN).
The PN scope generally includes gathering data, reinforcing teaching, and performing standard procedures on stable clients.
Understanding legal and professional boundaries is necessary to safely accept or decline care assignments.
2
Analyze each proposed task to identify those that require registered nurse (RN) or provider-level interventions.
Initial teaching, care plan formulation, and explaining surgical risks are identified as out of scope for the PN.
These tasks involve complex assessment, independent clinical judgment, or provider responsibilities.
3
Identify the task that aligns with the PN's technical skills and does not require initial comprehensive assessment.
The sterile dressing change on a healing incision is the only appropriate task.
This is a predictable, protocol-driven procedure on a stable client, making it safe for the PN to accept.

Key Concept

Practical Nurse Scope of Practice and Task Acceptance
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Topics

Client Care Assignments and Collaboration

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