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Difficulty: MediumAssignment, Delegation and Supervision

A registered nurse (RN) and an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are paired to care for a group of clients on a gastroenterology unit. Which task is most appropriate for the RN to delegate to the UAP?

  1. A
    Palpating the abdomen of a client reporting right lower quadrant pain to check for rebound tenderness.
  2. B
    Teaching a client with newly diagnosed celiac disease which gluten-containing foods to eliminate from their diet.
  3. Measuring and documenting the volume of liquid stool in a bedpan for a client with acute gastroenteritis.Answer
  4. D
    Verifying the correct placement of a nasogastric (NG) tube prior to administering prescribed medications.

Answer

Measuring and documenting the volume of liquid stool in a bedpan for a client with acute gastroenteritis.
The correct answer is measuring and documenting the volume of liquid stool. Unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are trained to assist with activities of daily living and perform basic, routine data collection, such as measuring intake and output. This task follows standard procedures and does not require nursing judgment or clinical decision-making.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the role and scope of practice of the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP).
The UAP is authorized to perform standard, unchanging procedures and collect basic, non-invasive data (e.g., vital signs, intake and output, assistance with activities of daily living).
Understanding scope of practice limits is essential for safe delegation.
2
Evaluate each option against the principles of delegation, specifically the rule that RNs cannot delegate evaluation, assessment, or teaching.
Palpating an abdomen is an assessment. Teaching about a diet is initial education. Verifying NG tube placement requires evaluation and clinical judgment.
The RN retains legal accountability for all nursing processes involving clinical decision-making.
3
Identify the task that involves basic data collection without requiring nursing judgment.
Measuring and documenting stool volume is a routine task involving standard intake and output calculation.
This aligns perfectly with the UAP's training and scope of practice.

Key Concept

Delegation to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Assignment, Delegation and Supervision

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