Question

The nurse is caring for a patient in the burn unit who has just undergone debridement of burn wounds. Which tasks are most appropriate for the nurse to delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)? Select all that apply.

1
Provide oral care before a meal.
2
Check the patient's vital signs.
3
Monitor the site of the patient's intravenous (IV) catheter.
4
Evaluate the patient's level of consciousness.
5
Teach the patient appropriate range of motion exercises.

Answer 1

UAP tasks appropriate for patient care after debridement include providing oral care and checking vital signs, but not evaluating consciousness, monitoring IV sites, or teaching exercises.

Step-by-step explanation:

When caring for a patient who has undergone debridement of wounds, certain tasks can be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Appropriate tasks for UAP include:

• Providing oral care before a meal
• Checking the patient's vital signs

These tasks are within the scope of UAP's responsibilities and do not require the advanced clinical judgement that a registered nurse or higher-level clinician would provide. Monitoring the site of the patient's intravenous (IV) catheter, evaluating the patient’s level of consciousness, and teaching the patient appropriate range of motion exercises are tasks that require professional nursing skills and knowledge, and therefore should not be delegated to UAP.

The nurse, under direct supervision, ensures that patient care is delivered safely and effectively, and assigns tasks to the UAP that are appropriate to their level of training and the condition of the patient.