Question

The registered nurse (RN) is caring for an older client who has been admitted to the hospital. The RN allocates several tasks to the unlicensed nursing personnel (UNP). In order to evaluate the understanding of the UNP, the RN asks the UNP to describe which tasks have been allocated. Which responses given by the UNP indicate effective understanding of the tasks? Select all that apply.

a) Assisting the client with ambulation and mobility exercises
b) Administering intravenous (IV) medications
c) Monitoring and recording the client's vital signs
d) Providing emotional support and companionship
e) Creating a care plan for the client's long-term goals

Answer 1

The UNP correctly understands their role when they identify tasks like assisting with mobility, monitoring vital signs, and providing emotional support. Administering IV medications and creating long-term care plans are not within their scope, which is instead focused on direct patient care under RN supervision.

Step-by-step explanation:

The unlicensed nursing personnel (UNP) demonstrate effective understanding of allocated tasks when they identify responsibilities that are within their scope of practice under the direct supervision of a registered nurse (RN). Responses indicating proper understanding include:

• Assisting the client with ambulation and mobility exercises
• Monitoring and recording the client's vital signs
• Providing emotional support and companionship

Tasks that are not within the UNP's scope and should not be recognized as their responsibility include administering intravenous (IV) medications and creating a care plan for the client's long-term goals. These are tasks reserved for a licensed nurse or higher-level medical professionals.

Under the direct supervision of a registered nurse, UNPs may engage in duties like taking and reporting patients' vital signs and assisting with ensuring accurate and sterile procedures – corresponding to patient care roles such as those performed by dialysis technicians, which is appropriate for the UNP's level of qualification.