Final answer:
For the charge nurse making client assignments, an RN should be assigned to clients with unstable angina and a cardiotomy client day 2 postoperative with chest tubes, as these conditions require the specialized skills and close monitoring that an RN provides. The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The appropriate clients to assign to the RN would be those requiring the most complex care and those with the most unstable conditions. In the scenarios given, the RN should be assigned to: A. A client from the previous shift with unstable angina, because they require continuous monitoring and assessment that an RN is qualified to provide. Unstable angina can escalate quickly, necessitating a need for a dedicated ICU staff nurse for acute interventions. D. A cardiotomy client who is day 2 postoperative and who has chest tubes. This patient's condition requires direct supervision and specialized care that an RN is trained to deliver, considering the delicate postoperative state and medical surgical environments associated with cardiotomy recovery.
Clients B, C, and E may be more appropriately assigned to a PN or UAP, as their conditions are more stable and the tasks can be performed with less direct RN supervision. Out of the five clients, the appropriate assignments for the RN would be: A client from the previous shift with unstable angina: This client needs close monitoring and immediate interventions, which are within the scope of an RN. A cardiotomy client who is day 2 postoperative and who has chest tubes: Postoperative care and management of chest tubes require the knowledge and skills of an RN. A client with quadriplegia for whom urinary catheterization is prescribed: This client's urinary catheterization also requires the expertise of an RN.