Question

A nurse is planning care for a group of clients in an inpatient mental health facility. Which of the following tasks should the nurse delegate to an assistive personnel (AP)?

A. Update the plan of care for a client who has bipolar disorder
B. Weigh a newly admitted client who has anorexia nervosa
C. Lead a medication education group
D. Conduct a mental status exam on a client who is new to the unit

Answer 1

The task that can be delegated to an assistive personnel is weighing a newly admitted client who has anorexia nervosa, as it does not require clinical judgment or intervention.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse in an inpatient mental health facility can delegate tasks that do not require nursing judgment or intervention to assistive personnel (AP). The appropriate task from the options provided to delegate to an AP is weighing a newly admitted client who has anorexia nervosa.

This is a straightforward task that can be safely performed by the AP under the nurse's supervision. However, updating the plan of care for a client, leading a medication education group, and conducting a mental status exam are all tasks that require specific clinical training and judgment, which are responsibilities of the registered nurse or licensed practical nurse and cannot be delegated to an AP.

Answer 2

The nurse can delegate the task of weighing a newly admitted client who has anorexia nervosa to an assistive personnel. Updating a plan of care, leading a medication education group, or conducting a mental status exam requires more advanced clinical judgment and expertise, which are not within the scope of practice for assistive personnel.

Step-by-step explanation:

In an inpatient mental health facility, a nurse planning care for a group of clients should delegate tasks appropriately, considering the scope of practice for each team member. Among the tasks listed, the one that a nurse should delegate to an assistive personnel (AP) is weighing a newly admitted client who has anorexia nervosa. This is a standard, non-invasive procedure that does not require clinical judgment or advanced knowledge about the client's condition. Updating the plan of care or conducting a mental status exam are complex tasks that require professional nursing or medical knowledge and cannot be delegated to APs. Similarly, leading a medication education group involves teaching and assessing the understanding of pharmacological treatments, which is beyond the scope of an AP's responsibilities.