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Difficulty: MediumAssignment, Delegation and Supervision

At the start of the shift on a neurological rehabilitation unit, a registered nurse (RN) is planning care alongside an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which task is most appropriate for the RN to delegate to the UAP?

  1. A
    Assessing a client's lung sounds prior to performing routine oral suctioning
  2. B
    Determining the effectiveness of an as-needed (PRN) analgesic given for a chronic headache
  3. Assisting a client who has stable Parkinson's disease with morning bathing and groomingAnswer
  4. D
    Providing initial instructions to a client's family regarding the implementation of fall precautions

Answer

Assisting a client who has stable Parkinson's disease with morning bathing and grooming
The correct answer is assisting a client with stable Parkinson's disease with morning bathing and grooming. Unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are trained to perform routine, standard tasks that do not require clinical judgment, such as activities of daily living (ADLs), hygiene, and ambulation for stable clients. Delegating bathing for a stable client falls safely within the UAP's scope of practice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the core principles of safe delegation.
The RN must retain tasks requiring clinical judgment, including assessment, evaluation, and initial teaching (often remembered by the EAT mnemonic).
To ensure safe and effective client care according to the legal scope of practice.
2
Evaluate each assigned task against the UAP scope of practice.
Assessing lung sounds is an assessment; providing instructions is teaching; determining pain relief is evaluation. Assisting with bathing is a standard routine care task.
To identify which tasks violate delegation rules and which task is legally and safely permissible.
3
Select the appropriate task for the UAP.
Assisting the stable client with Parkinson's disease is the only acceptable delegation.
It involves a stable client and a routine activity of daily living without requiring clinical judgment.

Key Concept

Delegation of Activities of Daily Living to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel
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Topics

Assignment, Delegation and Supervision

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