A nurse delegates tasks to a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and an assistive personnel (AP).
When admitting a client who is experiencing acute liver failure and who has ascites and an NG tube, which of the following tasks is most appropriate for the nurse to delegate to the LPN?
Insert an indwelling catheter if the client has not voided in 3 hr.
Obtain the abdominal girth now and every 4 hr.
Assess and document the level of consciousness every hour.
Measure the amount of gastric drainage every 2 hr.
None
None
The Correct Answer is D
A. Inserting an indwelling catheter involves an invasive procedure and assessment of urinary output and client status, which falls within the RN’s scope of practice in a high-risk client such as one with acute liver failure.
B. Obtaining abdominal girth requires assessment skills and interpretation for changes in ascites, which is more appropriate for the RN to ensure accurate monitoring.
C. Assessing and documenting level of consciousness is a critical assessment, especially in liver failure where hepatic encephalopathy is a risk. This is within the RN’s responsibility because changes can be subtle and require immediate intervention.
D. Measuring the amount of gastric drainage every 2 hours is a stable, routine task that follows established parameters and does not require advanced assessment skills. It is within the LPN’s scope and can be safely delegated, with the RN overseeing interpretation of any abnormal findings.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. A client who has an ileal conduit and mucus in the pouch - While mucus in the ileal conduit pouch should be monitored, it is not an urgent priority compared to assessing for potential complications such as bleeding in another client.
B. A client who has an arteriovenous fistula that vibrates when palpated - A vibrating arteriovenous fistula indicates normal functioning and does not require immediate assessment.
C. A client who had a transurethral resection of the prostate with red-tinged urine in the bag - Red-tinged urine may indicate bleeding, a potential complication after a transurethral resection of the prostate, requiring prompt assessment and intervention.
D. A client who has chronic kidney disease with cloudy dialysate outflow - While cloudy dialysate outflow may indicate infection or other complications in a client with chronic kidney disease on peritoneal dialysis, it is not as urgent as assessing for bleeding in the client with red- tinged urine.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. A gastric residual volume of 250 mL following 2 hours of infusion may indicate potential intolerance to the feeding, but it is not necessarily an immediate emergency unless it exceeds the facility’s threshold for residuals.
B. The client lying in a supine position poses a significant risk for aspiration, especially following a laryngectomy, where airway protection is compromised. Immediate intervention is necessary to reposition the client and reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia.
C. While the infusion pump being off is concerning, it may not require immediate intervention as long as the nurse is aware and can address it promptly.
D. Not dating the enteral feeding bag and tubing is important for infection control; however, it does not require immediate intervention compared to the risk posed by a supine position.
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