The client needs to ambulate using a walker. Which activity could ...

[Yolanda]

The client needs to ambulate using a walker. Which activity could the nurse safely delegate to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
 
  1. Documenting that the UAP cannot ambulate a client who requires assistive devices
  2. Teaching the client how to use the walker
  3. Evaluating the client's ability to use the walker properly
  4. Ambulating using the walker once the client demonstrates adequate skill

Question 2

The nurse is planning to delegate ambulation of the client to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). In order to provide proper instructions to the UAP, which action by the nurse is the most appropriate?
 
  1. Ambulating the client first and then having the UAP ambulate the client
  2. Quizzing the UAP to assure appropriate understanding of how to ambulate the client
  3. Assessing the client's ability to ambulate
  4. Observing the client ambulating

[Awesome]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 4

The nurse can delegate ambulation of the client to the UAP once the client has learned the skills as evidenced by demonstration. UAPs may help clients walk with assistive devices, but cannot teach the client how to use the walker or evaluate his performance.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 3

The nurse must first assess the client's ability to ambulate so proper instructions can be provided to the UAP. Ambulating the client first would tire the client, and there would be no need to delegate to the UAP. Quizzing the UAP would not be productive. If the nurse is uncertain about the UAP's abilities, the nurse would assist in ambulating the client and would evaluate the UAP's performance. Observing the client as she ambulates would not allow the nurse to provide thorough instructions to the UAP before ambulating the client.

[Yolanda]

TYSM

[gcook]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it