Delegation in Nursing (Pearson Review) || A+ Guaranteed.
The registered nurse (RN) must delegate care of an assigned client to an unlicensed assistive
person (UAP) for the shift. Which client would be best to delegate to the UAP?
1. A client who would benefit from talking about the recent death of her husband.
2. A client with a urinary drainage catheter and nasogastric feedings who is on bedrest.
3. A client with an ostomy who has persistent problems with leakage.
4. A client who was transferred from the critical care unit 3 days ago and is ambulatory. correct
answers 4. A client who was transferred from the critical care unit 3 days ago and is ambulatory.
Rationale:
Factors to consider when delegating care include complexity of task, problem-solving innovation
required, unpredictability, and level of client interaction. The ambulatory client is best to
delegate because this client is likely to be stable with a low level of unpredictability. The client
who recently lost her husband would benefit from pro- fessional communication with the RN and
requires a high level of client interaction. The client receiving enteral feedings and is
immobilized represents a more complex client, who is better assigned to a licensed nurse. The
client with a leaking ostomy would benefit from problem-solving innovation and is best cared for
by the RN.
Which task would not be appropriate for the registered nurse (RN) to delegate to a licensed
practical nurse (LPN) or unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
1. Instructing the LPN to reinforce teaching of the RN's assigned clients prior to discharge.
2. Assigning UAPs to complete vital signs and document and report changes to the RN.
3. Asking the UAP to assess and evaluate the client response to IV pain medication.
4. Instructing the LPN to remove a dressing from a postoperative client's abdominal wound.
correct answers 3. Asking the UAP to assess and evaluate the client response to IV pain
medication.
, Rationale:
The decision to delegate should be consistent with the nursing process (appropriate assessment,
planning, implementation, and evaluation). The person responsible for client assessment,
diagnosis, care planning, and evaluation is the registered nurse. The LPN can reinforce teaching
previously performed by the RN. Assistive personnel may perform simple nursing interventions,
but the RN remains responsible for analyzing the data and the client outcome. The LPN can
change a dressing.
A client is experiencing respiratory distress. Respirations are 32 breaths/min and shallow. The
client is positioned in an orthopneic position, with a heart rate of 118/min and a blood pressure of
90/40 mm Hg. The client is pale and confused. Which task should the nurse delegate to the
charge nurse?
1. Head-to-toe assessment
2. Placement of a second IV site
3. Application of oxygen
4. Overhead page the respiratory therapist (RT) correct answers 2. Placement of a second IV site.
Rationale:
The charge nurse should be used to complete a task within the RN's scope of practice, such as
starting an intravenous line, while leaving client assessment to the assigned nurse. The assigned
nurse should complete a head-to-toe assessment. The nurse assigned to the client knows more
about the client than other nurses on the unit do, and can determine a change in the client's status.
The application of oxygen is a task for the nurse assigned to the client. Given the information
provided in the scenario, the nurse should apply the oxygen immediately to rectify low oxygen
levels. The unit secretary could page RT to the room stat for assistance.
After receiving the intershift report, the registered nurse (RN) has many tasks to complete during
the next 12 hours. Which tasks would the nurse delegate to an unlicensed assistant person
(UAP)? Select all that apply.
1. Flushing a nasogastric tube on a client who has had a colectomy.
The registered nurse (RN) must delegate care of an assigned client to an unlicensed assistive
person (UAP) for the shift. Which client would be best to delegate to the UAP?
1. A client who would benefit from talking about the recent death of her husband.
2. A client with a urinary drainage catheter and nasogastric feedings who is on bedrest.
3. A client with an ostomy who has persistent problems with leakage.
4. A client who was transferred from the critical care unit 3 days ago and is ambulatory. correct
answers 4. A client who was transferred from the critical care unit 3 days ago and is ambulatory.
Rationale:
Factors to consider when delegating care include complexity of task, problem-solving innovation
required, unpredictability, and level of client interaction. The ambulatory client is best to
delegate because this client is likely to be stable with a low level of unpredictability. The client
who recently lost her husband would benefit from pro- fessional communication with the RN and
requires a high level of client interaction. The client receiving enteral feedings and is
immobilized represents a more complex client, who is better assigned to a licensed nurse. The
client with a leaking ostomy would benefit from problem-solving innovation and is best cared for
by the RN.
Which task would not be appropriate for the registered nurse (RN) to delegate to a licensed
practical nurse (LPN) or unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
1. Instructing the LPN to reinforce teaching of the RN's assigned clients prior to discharge.
2. Assigning UAPs to complete vital signs and document and report changes to the RN.
3. Asking the UAP to assess and evaluate the client response to IV pain medication.
4. Instructing the LPN to remove a dressing from a postoperative client's abdominal wound.
correct answers 3. Asking the UAP to assess and evaluate the client response to IV pain
medication.
, Rationale:
The decision to delegate should be consistent with the nursing process (appropriate assessment,
planning, implementation, and evaluation). The person responsible for client assessment,
diagnosis, care planning, and evaluation is the registered nurse. The LPN can reinforce teaching
previously performed by the RN. Assistive personnel may perform simple nursing interventions,
but the RN remains responsible for analyzing the data and the client outcome. The LPN can
change a dressing.
A client is experiencing respiratory distress. Respirations are 32 breaths/min and shallow. The
client is positioned in an orthopneic position, with a heart rate of 118/min and a blood pressure of
90/40 mm Hg. The client is pale and confused. Which task should the nurse delegate to the
charge nurse?
1. Head-to-toe assessment
2. Placement of a second IV site
3. Application of oxygen
4. Overhead page the respiratory therapist (RT) correct answers 2. Placement of a second IV site.
Rationale:
The charge nurse should be used to complete a task within the RN's scope of practice, such as
starting an intravenous line, while leaving client assessment to the assigned nurse. The assigned
nurse should complete a head-to-toe assessment. The nurse assigned to the client knows more
about the client than other nurses on the unit do, and can determine a change in the client's status.
The application of oxygen is a task for the nurse assigned to the client. Given the information
provided in the scenario, the nurse should apply the oxygen immediately to rectify low oxygen
levels. The unit secretary could page RT to the room stat for assistance.
After receiving the intershift report, the registered nurse (RN) has many tasks to complete during
the next 12 hours. Which tasks would the nurse delegate to an unlicensed assistant person
(UAP)? Select all that apply.
1. Flushing a nasogastric tube on a client who has had a colectomy.
