During a shift on a post-surgical urology and gastroenterology floor, a registered nurse (RN) is partnering with an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to manage a full client assignment. The RN is determining which interventions can be safely transferred to the UAP. Which of the following tasks are appropriate for the RN to delegate? Select all that apply.
- AAssisting a client to ambulate to the bathroom for the first time following a laparoscopic appendectomy.
- Reminding a client with an indwelling urinary catheter to keep the drainage bag below the level of the bladder.Answer
- Emptying a closed-wound Hemovac drain and recording the total volume of output in the medical record.Answer
- DDocumenting a description of the stoma appearance and surrounding peristomal skin integrity during a pouch change.
- Collecting a midstream clean-catch urine specimen for culture and sensitivity from a client experiencing dysuria.Answer
- FManually adjusting the infusion rate of a continuous bladder irrigation (CBI) based on the presence of visible blood clots.
Answer
The RN can safely delegate reminding the client about catheter bag placement, emptying and recording the Hemovac drain output, and collecting the midstream urine specimen.
The correct options represent tasks that are safe and appropriate to delegate to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). UAPs are permitted to perform routine, standard procedures on stable clients. This includes collecting midstream urine specimens, emptying closed-wound drainage systems and recording the output, and reinforcing or reminding clients about safety instructions that the RN has already provided (such as keeping a catheter bag below the bladder). These tasks do not require nursing assessment, clinical judgment, or initial teaching.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Delegation and Scope of Practice (RN vs. UAP)