Final answer:
The home health nurse should evaluate the new UAP's competency, assign them to less complex clients, partner them with an experienced UAP. The correct answer is option a.
Step-by-step explanation:
To ensure adequate care for all clients, the home health nurse should evaluate the newly hired UAP's level of competency by observing the UAP deliver care. This approach allows for direct assessment of practical skills and ensures that the UAP is performing procedures correctly and safely.
Additionally, it is beneficial to assign the newly hired UAP to clients who require the least complex level of care initially. As the UAP becomes more experienced, the complexity of assigned clients can increase. Pairing the new UAP with a more experienced UAP as a partner can also provide mentorship and further on-the-job training.
Lastly, the nurse should review the UAP's skills checklist and previous experience with the hiring individual to confirm qualifications before assigning tasks.