Of the following activities and skills, what can the nurse safely ...

[lidoalex]

Of the following activities and skills, what can the nurse safely delegate to the unlicensed assistive personnel?
 
  1. Provide oral fluids to a newly extubated client.
  2. Irrigate the indwelling urinary catheter of a client recovering from prostate surgery.
  3. Apply a wrist restraint to a client.
  4. Administer oral pain medication to a client before attending physical therapy.

Question 2

A client is prescribed seizure precautions. The nurse places functioning oral suction equipment in the client's room because:
 
  1. Suctioning might be needed to prevent the aspiration of oral secretions.
  2. The client has difficulty swallowing liquids.
  3. There was a spare oral suction set up, and the nurse did not want to return it to Engineering.
  4. It helps when the client is brushing her teeth.

[kthug]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: Providing oral fluid to a newly extubated client should be done first by the nurse, so the client can be assessed for ability to safely swallow.
Rationale 2: Irrigating an indwelling urinary catheter is beyond the scope for UAP.
Rationale 3: Application of ordered restraints and their temporary removal for skin monitoring and care may be delegated to UAP who have been trained in their use.
Rationale 4: Administering medication is beyond the scope for UAP.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: When implementing seizure precautions, the nurse should place oral suction equipment in the client's room because suctioning might be needed to prevent aspiration of oral secretions.
Rationale 2: If the client were having difficulty swallowing liquids, oral suction already would be in the client's room.
Rationale 3: Placing a piece of equipment in a client's room that is not needed is not a good utilization of resources.
Rationale 4: Having oral suction equipment available for teeth brushing is not the best use of the equipment.