Question

The nurse is caring for clients on a telemetry floor. Which nursing task would be most appropriate to delegate to an UAP?

a. Teach the client how to perform a glucometer check.
b. Assist feeding the client diagnosed with CHF.
c. Check the cholesterol level for the client diagnosed with atherosclerosis.
d. Assist the nurse to check the unit of blood at the client's bedside.

Answer 1

The most appropriate task to delegate to a UAP on a telemetry floor is to assist with feeding a client diagnosed with CHF, as UAPs are trained to provide basic patient care under supervision.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse is caring for clients on a telemetry floor. The most appropriate nursing task to delegate to an Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) would be b. Assist in feeding the client diagnosed with CHF.

UAPs are not licensed to perform clinical tasks that require specialized education or to make clinical judgments, which are tasks required to teach a client how to perform a glucometer check or to check cholesterol levels. Moreover, UAPs cannot participate in tasks that require the direct supervision of a registered nurse, such as assisting in blood transfusion checks with a nurse. However, UAPs can provide basic patient care activities, such as feeding a patient, under the supervision of a nurse.

Carrying out glucometer checks and providing education on its use typically fall under the role of a diabetes educator or other licensed staff who have the expertise and knowledge to instruct on diabetes management, medication, and blood monitoring devices.