Final answer:
The most likely task a nurse would perform is bathing a surgical patient prior to surgery, as it is important to maintain cleanliness and reduce infection risk, and this is within the usual scope of nursing care.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse would likely perform a range of tasks to provide comprehensive care to patients. Among the options provided:
- Feeding an Alzheimer's patient who does not have trouble swallowing is a task that could be performed by a nurse, especially when the patient requires assistance.
- Ambulating a low fall-risk patient with a walker is another task a nurse might do to encourage mobility and independence in patients, ensuring their safety.
- Bathing a surgical patient prior to surgery is typically a task for a nurse to ensure that the patient is clean and to reduce the risk of postoperative infections.
- However, trimming the toenails of a patient with Diabetic Neuropathy is not typically within the scope of nursing practice due to the increased risk of injury and infection. This task would usually be referred to a podiatrist or another qualified healthcare provider specialized in foot care.
Considering the care needs and the risks associated with each task, the most appropriate and safely performed task by a nurse would be choice (c) bathing a surgical patient prior to surgery.