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A registered nurse (RN) and a practical nurse (PN) are collaborating on the care of a client admitted with bacterial pneumonia. Which of the following tasks should the RN delegate to the PN?

  1. Collecting an expectorated sputum specimen for laboratory analysisAnswer
  2. B
    Explaining the potential risks and benefits of an upcoming bronchoscopy
  3. C
    Formulating the initial nursing care plan using the admission data
  4. D
    Providing a clinical update about the client's respiratory status to a visiting neighbor

Answer

Collecting an expectorated sputum specimen for laboratory analysis
The scope of practice for a practical nurse includes performing standard, predictable clinical procedures such as collecting a sputum specimen. This task involves following a set protocol without requiring comprehensive independent nursing assessment, initial care planning, or complex clinical judgment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the client's condition and the PN's legal scope of practice.
The client has a stable, predictable diagnosis. Tasks assigned must fit within the boundaries of data collection, standard procedures, and basic care.
Delegation decisions must align with the NCSBN guidelines and the individual state's nurse practice act.
2
Evaluate each proposed task against established scope of practice boundaries.
Initial care planning, explaining procedure risks for consent, and sharing private health information with unauthorized persons are all outside the legal and ethical scope of a PN.
Identifying actions that require RN-level judgment, provider responsibility, or violate privacy laws eliminates incorrect choices.
3
Select the task that represents a standard, predictable procedure.
Sputum collection is identified as the correct task.
It is a standard procedure that can be safely performed by a PN without requiring comprehensive independent nursing assessment.

Key Concept

Delegation and LPN/VN Scope of Practice
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