Question

A charge nurse is delegating tasks on a nursing unit that is short staffed. A client has a prescription for a wound irrigation twice per day. Which of the following actions should the charge nurse take?

Option 1: Perform the wound irrigation during rounds.

Option 2: Delegate the procedure to an assistive personnel (AP).

Option 3: Assign the procedure to a licensed practical nurse (LPN).

Option 4: Reschedule the procedure to be performed once daily.

Answer 1

The charge nurse should delegate the wound irrigation procedure to a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This allows the charge nurse to prioritize other tasks and ensures the client receives the necessary care.

Step-by-step explanation:

The charge nurse should delegate the wound irrigation procedure to a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Option 3: Assign the procedure to a licensed practical nurse (LPN).

LPNs have the necessary training and skills to perform wound irrigations, and they can do so under the supervision of a registered nurse. This delegation allows the charge nurse to prioritize other tasks and ensures that the client receives the necessary care.

By delegating to an LPN, the charge nurse is following the appropriate guidelines for skill delegation and optimizing the available resources on the nursing unit.