A charge nurse has assigned a group of clients to a licensed practical nurse (LPN). The charge nurse receives reports from her assigned clients about the LPN's lack of care. Which of the following actions should the charge nurse take?

 

Rationale:

A. Ambulate an older adult client who has hypertension is a task that an AP can perform, provided the client is stable and has been assessed by the nurse.

B. Provide discharge instructions for a client who has a new skin graft is a task that requires nursing judgment and cannot be delegated to an AP.

C. Check a blood product with another nurse prior to administration is a nursing responsibility that requires verification by licensed personnel and cannot be delegated to an AP.

D. Weigh a client who has heart failure is appropriate for an AP, as it involves routine measurement that can be delegated.

E. Perform an admission assessment on a client is a nursing responsibility and cannot be delegated to an AP.

Rationale:

A. Inform the state medical board for an immediate investigation is not the initial step; concerns should first be reported to appropriate facility personnel.

B. Counsel the provider to determine the cause of the substance abuse is not the nurse’s role; this is a serious issue that requires reporting rather than counseling.

C. Notify the nursing supervisor of the concerns is the appropriate initial step to address the issue according to facility protocol.

D. Encourage clients to change to a different provider is not within the nurse’s scope of practice for handling the provider's behavior and does not address the root issue.