Question

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

a.Discuss outpatient resources with a client who has post-traumatic stress disorder.The nurse should provide information on outpatient resources to a client who has post-traumatic stress disorder. Making a referral requires the use of the nursing process and is therefore outside the range of function for an AP.
b.Create a plan of care for a client who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal.The nurse should create a plan of care for a client who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal because this can be a life-threatening situation. Creating a plan of care for a client who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal requires assessment and is therefore outside the range of function for an AP.
c.Explain sleep hygiene to a client who has insomnia.The nurse should explain the elements of sleep hygiene to a client who has insomnia because teaching requires assessment and the use of the nursing process. Therefore, this action is outside the range of function for an AP.
d.Stay with a client who has anorexia nervosa for 1 hr after mealtimes.MY ANSWERStaying with a client who has anorexia nervosa following mealtimes is within the range of function of an AP. APs are allowed to attend to the safety of clients who are stable, and this task does not require assessment or technical skill.

Answer 1

The nurse can delegate the task of staying with a client who has anorexia nervosa after mealtimes to an AP since it involves ensuring client safety and does not require specialized nursing skills. Other tasks involving assessment and planning should not be delegated.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the tasks presented, the one that a nurse in a mental health clinic can delegate to an assistive personnel (AP) is staying with a client who has anorexia nervosa for 1 hour after mealtimes. This task is within the AP's scope as it does not require a nursing assessment or complex technical skills, instead focusing on the safety and support of the client during a critical time. In contrast, discussing outpatient resources with a client who has post-traumatic stress disorder, creating a plan of care for a client experiencing alcohol withdrawal, and explaining sleep hygiene to a client with insomnia involve in-depth assessments, teaching, and therapeutic intervention, which fall outside the AP's functions and within the registered nurse's scope of practice.

Efficient handling of mental health issues is crucial, as evidenced by long wait times for campus counseling services and the broad impact of mental health issues on the student community. A campus counselor mentioned approximately 10 days of wait time for appointments, indicating a significant barrier to timely support. Additionally, a student survey revealed that a significant majority have faced mental health challenges, supporting the need for adequate staff-to-student ratio as recommended by the International Accreditation of Counseling Services.