Question

Which of these clients with diabetes does the endocrine unit charge nurse assign to an RN who has floated from the labor/delivery unit?

1. 58-year-old with sensory neuropathy who needs teaching about foot care
2. 68-year-old with diabetic ketoacidosis who has an IV running at 250 mL/hr
3. 70-year-old who needs blood glucose monitoring and insulin before each meal
4. 76-year-old who was admitted with fatigue and shortness of breath

Answer 1

The 70-year-old who requires blood glucose monitoring and insulin administration before meals is the most appropriate patient for an RN floated from the labor/delivery unit, as these are standard diabetes management tasks within the scope of any RN.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the given clients with diabetes on the endocrine unit, the charge nurse should assign the 70-year-old who needs blood glucose monitoring and insulin before each meal to the RN who has floated from the labor/delivery unit. This patient's care involves standard diabetes management procedures that are within the scope of practice for any RN, including monitoring blood glucose levels, calculating insulin doses, and administering insulin injections. It is a task that requires vigilance but is less complex and intensive compared to managing a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis or addressing the education needs regarding the complications of diabetes such as sensory neuropathy.