Author Question: The nurse is delegating taking vital signs to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). What ... (Read 89 times)

Tirant22 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The nurse is delegating taking vital signs to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). What instructions does the nurse provide the UAP? (Select all that apply.)

a. Let me know if Mr. Smith's blood pressure is low.
b. Take Mrs. Jones' blood pressure every 15 minutes.
c. Call me if Ms. Walsh's systolic blood pressure drops to under 100 mm Hg.
d. Do you want me to demonstrate using the electronic blood pressure cuff?
e. I'll take Mr. Derby's blood pressure since he is not stable.

Question 2

The nursing student learns that the purpose of measuring vital signs includes which rationale? (Select all that apply.)

a. Monitor body systems functioning.
b. Identify early signs of problems.
c. Evaluate effectiveness of interventions.
d. Determine if a cure has been obtained.
e. Provide a baseline to compare against.

sokh · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B, C, D, E
The nurse can delegate measuring vital signs to UAPs if the patient is stable. The nurse must ensure the UAP knows the proper technique for taking vital signs and knows which readings must be reported. Telling the UAP to report a blood pressure that is too low is too vague.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A, B, C, E
Vital signs give information on the functioning of body systems, can lead the nurse to identify early signs of problems, can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and provide a baseline to compare against subsequent readings. They are not used to solely determine if a disease has been cured.