During a midday team meeting on a busy general medicine unit, a registered nurse (RN) creates a task list for an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which of the following assignments are appropriate for the RN to include in the UAP's task list? Select all that apply.
- Assisting a client who had a total hip arthroplasty 3 days ago with ambulation to the bathroom.Answer
- BFeeding a client with severe dysphagia who was admitted earlier in the shift with a cerebrovascular accident.
- Documenting the oral fluid intake and urine output for a client with chronic stable heart failure.Answer
- DAssessing the lung sounds of a client who is receiving oxygen therapy for pneumonia.
- Assisting a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) into a high-Fowler's position for meals.Answer
- FEvaluating a client's pain level 30 minutes after the administration of oral pain medication.
Answer
The appropriate tasks to delegate to the UAP are assisting the hip arthroplasty client with ambulation, documenting fluid intake and output, and positioning the client with COPD for meals.
The correct tasks involve routine, standard procedures on stable clients that do not require nursing assessment, clinical judgment, or evaluation. Assisting with ambulation for a stable post-operative client, documenting intake and output, and positioning a client for meals are all within the UAP's safely delegated scope of practice.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Delegation to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP)