Which of the following tasks is appropriate for the nurse to delegate to an experienced UAP?

Experienced UAP can post signs on the client’s door that display airborne isolation precautions, stock necesario equipment, and remain visitors to wear a respiratory mask when entering the clients room. The RN is responsable for appropriate communication with other departments and providing instructions to clients and their families.

-A registered nurse or LIP must personally take a laboratory panic/critical value result and then initiate the appropriate steps for the needed interventions.
-*The registered nurse is responsible for assessment, planning, evaluation, and teaching in the care of a client with a gastrostomy tube. The licensed practical nurse can administer tube feedings and medications and provide ostomy care in a stable client.
*The registered nurse may delegate components of care but not parts of the nursing process itself (eg, assessment, planning, evaluation, nursing judgment).
*In the client who has had a percutaneous coronary intervention, after initial assessment and comparison to pre-procedure baseline, the RN may assign the tasks of medication administration, monitoring of neurovascular status of the involved extremity, and checking for bleeding at the catheter insertion site to the LPN.
*Collection of routine specimens and measurement of intake and output are appropriate duties for the UAP. Nursing actions that require assessment, teaching, evaluation, or clinical judgment must be performed by the RN.
*The RN can safely delegate tasks to the LPN that do not involve the functions of high-level assessment, evaluation, or clinical nursing judgment.
*Unlicensed assistive personnel can safely assist stable clients with activities of daily living, hygiene needs, ambulation, and repositioning. They can also collect and document vital signs (eg, pulse oximetry) and use aspiration precautions (eg, oral hygiene and suctioning). The registered nurse is responsible for client teaching, ongoing assessment, and evaluation of outcomes.
*Client care that involves any part of the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, evaluation) can never be delegated to the licensed practical/vocational nurse or the UAP. The UAP can assist with basic care activities and collect data (eg, vital signs, intake and output) for stable clients. The RN is ultimately accountable for the care provided by the UAP.
*The RN can delegate routine tasks such as taking vital signs, supervising ambulation, making beds, assisting with hygiene, and activities of daily living to the experienced UAP. Assessment, analysis of data, planning, teaching, and evaluation are the responsibilities of the RN.
*The registered nurse (RN) is responsible for the client's initial assessment, plan of care development, evaluation, and initial teaching. The RN can delegate most medication administration, client monitoring, education reinforcement, and routine procedures to the licensed practical nurse.
*Unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) can perform passive range-of-motion exercises, apply protective ointment, and obtain objective data for stable clients under the direction of a registered nurse. However, UAP cannot feed clients with potential dysphagia or make evaluations about treatment effectiveness.
*Tasks requiring initial assessment, initial or discharge education, care planning, or care of an unstable client require the clinical judgment of the registered nurse (RN) and may not be delegated. The licensed practical nurse may perform basic care activities of the client with an established ostomy, perform specific assessments, monitor RN findings, and reinforce education
*The registered nurse is responsible for any care requiring clinical judgment. Unlicensed assistive personnel can assist with activities of daily living, documenting intake and output, positioning, and taking the vital signs of stable clients.
*The UAP with the skills and knowledge can perform standardized procedures (eg, assisting a client with morning care, emptying a colostomy bag in a client with an established stoma). However, UAP are not responsible for sterile procedures, enteral feedings, or performing standardized procedures in an unstable client as these require the RN's knowledge, judgment, and skill.
*Nurses preparing to delegate client care should consider the 5 rights of delegation. Appropriate tasks to delegate to a licensed practical nurse include administration of oral and parenteral medications, excluding IV route, and reinforcement of teaching previously provided by the registered nurse.
*Emptying a urinary drainage bag, providing perineal care around an indwelling urinary catheter, and reapplying sequential compression devices can be performed safely by unlicensed assistive personnel. Assessing the patency of a wound drain is the responsibility of the registered nurse, and disgruntled visitors should be escorted off the unit by security.
* LPNs may safely perform sterile procedures and routine medication administration. The RN is responsible for discharge planning and performing comprehensive clinical assessments. The nurse should also consider appropriate use of resources when making assignments or delegating tasks.
*Under the direction of a registered nurse (RN), the licensed practical nurse can perform higher-level skills within the scope of practice defined by the state. Appropriate tasks include administering routine medications for expected needs, monitoring RN findings, and performing focused assessments (eg, breath sounds, bowel sounds, neurovascular status).
*The registered nurse is responsible for assessing pain characteristics, developing the care plan, and providing initial and discharge teaching. A licensed practical nurse may monitor pain level and administer pain medication. The nurse should consider the 5 rights of delegation and effective use of resources when delegating tasks

The RN should communicate directions to the delegate that include any unique client requirements and characteristics as well as clear expectations on what to do, what to report, and when to ask for assistance.
*To prevent immobility hazards for a client in skeletal traction, the RN can delegate the following tasks to the UAP:
• Assist with active and passive ROM exercises
• Notify the RN of client reports of pain, tingling, or decreased sensation in the affected extremity
• Remind the client to use the incentive spirometer
• Maintain proper use of pneumatic compression devices
*Most client falls are unobserved and occur in the client's room or bathroom. Assessment, client orientation, and teaching are the responsibilities of the RN and are not appropriate to delegate to the UAP.
*The registered nurse (RN) is responsible for assessing the client at risk for venous thromboembolism, developing and implementing the plan of care, teaching, and evaluating interventions. The RN may delegate anticoagulant administration, measurement and application of compression devices, and teaching reinforcement to the licensed practical nurse.
*Administering most medications and collecting data related to adequacy of oxygenation and ventilation are tasks within the scope of practice for a licensed practical nurse. The overall assessment, analysis, and evaluation of the collected data to develop the client plan of care are the responsibilities of the supervising registered nurse.
*The nurse must assess the client personally (rather than delegating) when a potentially ominous report is made by a less-qualified staff member.
*Unlicensed assistive personnel may perform clerical (eg, escorting family members, transporting blood products) and clinical tasks (eg, emptying, measuring, and recording output) related to the care of stable clients under the direction of the registered nurse.
*Key components of the nursing process, such as assessment, diagnosis, planning, evaluation, and teaching, fall under the scope of practice of the RN and should not be delegated. However, some skills, such as obtaining a blood glucose level, can be delegated to UAP as long they have received documented training and have demonstrated competency.
*When the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) reports an abnormal vital sign to the nurse, the nurse should assess the client further. It is inappropriate delegation to have the UAP recheck the client.
*After the registered nurse has initiated and monitored the client for the first 15 minutes of a blood transfusion, measurement of vital signs may be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel, who may also obtain the blood product from the blood bank.
*The RN is responsible for assessing and evaluating the client's wound and wound drainage and maintaining the Hemovac drainage device, including drain site care. These tasks involve use of the nursing process and require clinical judgment, so they cannot be delegated to the UAP.
*Administration of oxygen is considered similar to administration of a medication and is therefore the responsibility of the RN; it would not be delegated to UAP. However, the UAP may reapply the oxygen delivery device and make and record observations related to oxygen therapy. Any abnormal findings must be reported to the RN for validation and assessment.
*In managing the team, first find out (assess) the reason for a refusal to do a task.
*Experienced UAP can post signs on the client's door that display airborne isolation precautions, stock necessary equipment, and remind visitors to wear a respirator mask when entering the client's room. The RN is responsible for appropriate communication with other departments and providing instruction to clients and their families
*When the completion of a delegated task is questioned, the nurse should first confirm its completion with the designated personnel.
*The more experienced RN is assigned to the client with more complex needs that require a more advanced level of nursing skill and judgment. LPNs can perform noninvasive interventions and certain invasive tasks for more stable clients.
*Assign a new UAP specific tasks that do not require specialized knowledge or skills. The UAP can gather data but should not be asked to assess/analyze/evaluate or measure client for compression devices.

Assignments for float nurses should be made based on what is within the knowledge and skill of the generalist nurse. A float nurse should be able to administer oral medication and monitor vital signs, whereas myocardial infarction, pacemaker malfunction, and unstable angina should be assigned to an experienced cardiac nurse.

*When assigning clients to the appropriate staff member, the RN must consider the individual client needs and the skills of the staff member. The more experienced RN is assigned to the client with the more complex physiologic and psychologic needs, who requires a more advanced level of nursing skill. The new graduate nurse is assigned to the client with less complex needs, who requires basic nursing skills, such as measurement of vital signs and basic physical assessment.
* A float nurse should be assigned clients who require care similar to the nurse's usual client population. Clients requiring care from a nurse with specialized knowledge should not be assigned to a float nurse.
*A stable client with the least complex problems and the most clearly defined outcomes is the most appropriate assignment for a float nurse.
*When a nurse is asked to care for clients in an unfamiliar population ("float"), the duties to be performed and the nurse's limitations in skills or knowledge of specialized care should be clarified. Refusing to go can result in disciplinary action, including termination.
*The charge nurse should assign the most stable and predictable client to the LPN. Clients who are less predictable and stable require clinical assessment and judgment and should be assigned to an RN.
*A stable client with the least complex problems and the most clearly defined outcomes is the most appropriate assignment for a float nurse.
*Clients who are immunosuppressed from chemotherapy should not be cared for by a health care provider who is infectious.
*The charge nurse should assign the most stable clients to the LPN. Tasks exclusive to the RN includes assessment of an unstable client and intravenous medication administration.
*The registered nurse makes assignments according to staff members' experience, knowledge, and skill level. The more experienced nurse is assigned to clients who are less stable and require more in-depth analysis of assessment data to implement and plan care. The less experienced graduate nurse is assigned to more stable clients who require basic nursing care.
*A new nurse should be competent in performing the basic skills needed to care for a client with a musculoskeletal injury (eg, pain and neurovascular assessments).
*The nurse on the orthopedic unit, who is giving client assignments to a float nurse, must consider how to best meet the needs of the clients safely. The most appropriate assignment is a stable client, who requires basic pain, peripheral, and neurovascular assessments, which should be familiar to a float nurse from a general medical unit.
*Meconium-stained amniotic fluid places the newborn at risk for meconium aspiration syndrome. A skilled neonatal resuscitation team should be present at birth for immediate newborn evaluation and stabilization.
*Clients with infectious diseases that can be transmitted to the fetus (eg, TORCH infections) should not be assigned to a pregnant nurse. These infections, including parvovirus B19, can cause severe anomalies in the developing fetus.
*A pediatric nurse who is floated to an adult medical surgical unit should be assigned clients with diagnoses common to the pediatric client population. Some examples include sickle cell anemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, pneumonia, and acute appendicitis.
*Care of stable clients with expected outcomes should be delegated to the LPN. The RN cannot delegate client teaching or care of those who will require ongoing assessment and clinical judgment.
*An RN is appropriately assigned to the client who is most unstable. The LPN's scope of practice does not include new discharge teaching or the administration of blood.
*The RN should delegate stable clients with expected outcomes to the LPN. The RN cannot delegate any techniques or procedures that involve evaluation, teaching, or assessment methods.
*The client with a complex illness or one who is unstable (uncontrolled diabetes with hyperglycemia) should be assigned to a more experienced nurse. In addition, tasks requiring advanced skills (ultrafiltration, IV administration of high-risk medications) should be assigned to nurses who have had time to refine their basic skills and have acquired more advanced assessment expertise.

Postmortem care can be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel at the nurse's discretion (5 rights of delegation). It includes client preparation (eg, hygiene, positioning) and transportation of the body to the appropriate facility.

Nurses may delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel tasks that relate to basic hygiene; tasks of daily living; measurement and documentation of vital signs and intake and output; and validated technical skills. Activities requiring assessment may be performed only by the nurse.

Float nurses should be assigned to clients who most reflect the client population with which they are familiar. Safety is a priority when making client assignments.

Unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) cannot provide client education, perform assessments, or monitor for assessment changes. UAP should not be delegated tasks outside their scope of practice.

When caring for the client on a ventilator, the nurse may consider delegating the following tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel: vital sign measurement, oral care, personal hygiene, blood glucose testing, passive or active range-of-motion exercises, and measurement of urine output.

Dementia (Alzheimer disease, Vacular, etc)

While caring for a client with Alzheimer disease, the licensed practical nurse is responsible for administration of medications and enteral feedings (if prescribed) and monitoring for safety hazards and behavioral changes. The role of unlicensed assistive personnel involves helping with activities of daily living and reporting changes in the client.

What activities would be appropriate to delegate to the UAP?

Which task could a staff nurse delegate to a UAP?

Which of the following tasks is appropriate for the nurse to delegate to an experienced nursing assistant?

What tasks can a UAP perform?