Question

A nurse on an acute mental health unit is delegating tasks to an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following tasks should the nurse delegate?

A. Assisting with oral care for a client who reports having a dry mouth because of a prescribed antipsychotic
B. Providing instructions about photosensitivity to a client who has a prescription for an antipsychotic medication
C. Evaluating the change in blood glucose levels for a client who is taking an antipsychotic
D. Obtaining an Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) rating for a client who is taking an antipsychotic

Answer 1

Tasks that can be delegated to an assistive personnel on an acute mental health unit include assisting with oral care and obtaining an AIMS rating for a client.

Step-by-step explanation:

The tasks that a nurse on an acute mental health unit can delegate to an assistive personnel (AP) include:

• Assisting with oral care for a client who reports having a dry mouth because of a prescribed antipsychotic
• Obtaining an Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) rating for a client who is taking an antipsychotic

The nurse should not delegate tasks that require evaluation or instructions, such as evaluating the change in blood glucose levels for a client who is taking an antipsychotic or providing instructions about photosensitivity to a client with a prescription for an antipsychotic.