A newly hired unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) is assigned to a home healthcare team along with two experienced UAPs.
Which intervention should the home health nurse implement to ensure adequate care for all clients?

Choice A rationale:

Procure platelet products from the blood bank. Rationale: Procuring platelet products from the blood bank is a specialized task that requires specific training and authorization. It should be performed by licensed healthcare providers, such as nurses or physicians, rather than unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP).

Choice B rationale:

Titrate oxygen to the prescribed parameters. Rationale: Titrating oxygen to prescribed parameters requires clinical judgment and assessment skills, which are beyond the scope of practice for UAP. This task should be performed by licensed nurses or respiratory therapists.

Choice C rationale:

Monitor an intravenous infusion rate on an established schedule. Rationale: This is the correct answer. UAP can be trained to monitor intravenous (IV) infusion rates on an established schedule for clients who do not require complex adjustments. It is within their scope of practice to ensure that the IV is running at the prescribed rate and to report any abnormalities or concerns to the nursing staff.

Choice D rationale:

Insert a urinary catheter for an uncomplicated client. Rationale: Inserting a urinary catheter is a specialized nursing procedure that should only be performed by licensed nurses or healthcare providers. It is not within the scope of practice for UAP, even for uncomplicated cases.

Choice A rationale:

Exenatide does not work in the same way as insulin in lowering blood glucose levels. Exenatide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 agonist) that works by stimulating insulin secretion in response to elevated blood glucose levels, slowing gastric emptying, and suppressing glucagon release. It does not act like exogenous insulin.

Choice B rationale:

Injecting exenatide within 30 minutes before or after a meal is the correct instruction. This timing is essential because exenatide works best when it is coordinated with meals to help control post-meal blood glucose spikes.

Choice C rationale:

There are precautions about taking exenatide with other medications. It is important for the client to discuss all medications, including potential interactions, with their healthcare provider. Some medications may need to be adjusted when taken with exenatide.

Choice D rationale:

Notifying the healthcare provider if abdominal pain occurs is a valid instruction. Exenatide can sometimes cause gastrointestinal side effects, including abdominal pain. It is essential for the client to report any adverse effects to their healthcare provider for appropriate management.