Final answer:
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is the healthcare team member who performs functions through passive delegation, as their role involves supporting patient care with routine duties while being supervised by registered nurses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of passive delegation in healthcare refers to tasks that are assigned to support personnel by default because they fall within the routine duties and scope of the job. In the context of the healthcare team, the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) would be the member who performs functions through passive delegation. This is because CNAs are typically supervised by registered nurses (RNs) and are tasked with duties that support patient care but do not require the advanced training of a nurse or medical provider. Examples include helping patients with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and feeding, as well as taking vital signs and documenting patient information.
Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners have advanced training and are often involved in active delegation; they can diagnose conditions and prescribe treatments under the supervision of a physician. Physical therapists also require specialized education and perform specific therapeutic interventions, which would not typically fall under passive delegation.