The practical nurse (PN) on a medical-surgical unit is reviewing the morning client census to determine appropriate care assignments and collaboration needs. Match each specific client scenario to the most appropriate interprofessional team member or delegation action.
- A client preparing for discharge who requires coordination of medical transport and financial assistance for home oxygen therapy.Consult with the Medical Social Worker (MSW) or Case Manager.
- A client receiving continuous enteral feeding who requires verification of gastric residual volume prior to scheduled medications.Perform independently as the Practical Nurse (PN).
- A client requiring routine oral hygiene and bed repositioning who has a well-established tracheostomy.Assign to the Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP).
- A client admitted with a COPD exacerbation who develops sudden-onset restlessness, paradoxical chest movement, and decreasing oxygen saturation.Transfer care to the Registered Nurse (RN).
Answer
The MSW coordinates financial and transport logistics; the PN independently verifies enteral feedings; the UAP performs routine oral hygiene for the stable tracheostomy client; and the RN manages the acutely deteriorating COPD client.
Safe delegation and care assignments require matching the complexity and stability of the client to the appropriate caregiver's legal scope of practice. Unstable clients require the RN's comprehensive assessment, routine and stable tasks can be delegated to UAPs, standard nursing procedures on stable clients fall within the PN scope, and complex discharge resource coordination requires interprofessional collaboration with social services.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Interprofessional collaboration and delegation based on client stability, task predictability, and legal scope of practice boundaries.