Question

An RN on a med-surg unit is making assignments at the beginning of the shift. Which of the following tasks should the nurse delegate to the PN?

a. obtain VS for a client who is 2hrs postprocedure following a cardiac cath

b. administer a unity of packed RBCs to a client who has cancer

c. instruct a client who is scheduled for d/c in the performance of wound care

d. develop a plan of care for a newly admitted client who has pneumonia

Answer 1

The RN should delegate the task of obtaining vital signs for a client who is 2 hours post-procedure following a cardiac catheterization to the Practical Nurse, as it is within the PN's scope of practice.

Step-by-step explanation:

An RN on a med-surg unit who is making assignments at the beginning of a shift should delegate tasks appropriately based on the scope of practice of the staff members. The task that an RN should delegate to a Practical Nurse (PN) is to obtain vital signs for a client who is 2 hours post-procedure following a cardiac catheterization. Vital sign monitoring is within the PN's scope of practice and does not require the advanced assessment skills of an RN. Administration of blood products, such as packed RBCs, discharge education on wound care, and developing a plan of care for a pneumonia patient typically fall within the RN's scope due to their complexity and requirement for a higher level of nursing judgment and assessment.