A nurse is planning to delegate client care tasks to an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following tasks should the nurse plan to delegate to the AP?
A.
Perform gastrostomy feedings through a client’s established gastrostomy tube
B.
Determine if the PRN pain medication administered 30 min ago has helped
C.
Provide instructions about client care to a family member over the telephone
D.
Teach a client how to measure their own blood pressure
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is A. Perform gastrostomy feedings through a client’s established gastrostomy tube.
Explanation:
When delegating tasks to assistive personnel (AP), it’s crucial for nurses to consider the complexity and scope of the tasks based on the training and competencies of the AP. Here’s a breakdown of the options:
A. Perform gastrostomy feedings through a client’s established gastrostomy tube: This task is appropriate for delegation because it involves a straightforward procedure that does not require nursing judgment or assessment. The AP can follow established protocols to perform the feeding as directed. APs are trained to handle such tasks as long as they are within the scope of practice defined by the facility.
B. Determine if the PRN pain medication administered 30 min ago has helped: This task requires assessment and critical thinking skills to evaluate the effectiveness of the medication. The nurse must analyze the client’s response and possibly make decisions about further pain management, which should not be delegated to an AP.
C. Provide instructions about client care to a family member over the telephone: This task involves communication skills, critical thinking, and the ability to answer questions and assess understanding. Such instruction requires a nursing judgment that should be performed by a nurse rather than delegated to an AP.
D. Teach a client how to measure their own blood pressure: Teaching is a complex skill that requires assessment of the client’s understanding, providing feedback, and evaluating competence. This task necessitates nursing judgment and should not be delegated to an AP.
In summary, effective delegation is about ensuring that the right tasks are assigned to the right personnel while maintaining client safety and care quality. Tasks that involve routine procedures and do not require professional judgment, such as performing established feedings, are suitable for delegation to APs.