A nurse in an acute care mental health facility is participating in a medication education group. The leader of the group uses a laissez-faire leadership style.
Which of the following actions should the nurse expect from the leader during the session?

This is part of the medication reconciliation process, which is done to avoid medication errors such as omissions, duplications, dosing errors, or drug interactions. It should be done at every transition of care in which new medications are ordered or existing orders are rewritten.

Choice B is wrong because the nurse should not encourage the client to make his own list after he returns to his home. The nurse should provide the client with an updated and accurate list of medications before discharge and instruct the client to keep it with him at all times.

Choice C is wrong because the nurse should not include any adverse effects of the medications the client might develop. The nurse should include any known allergies or adverse reactions the client has experienced in the past, but not potential adverse effects that have not occurred.

Choice D is wrong because the nurse should not exclude nutritional supplements from the list of medications the client reports. The nurse should include all prescription medications, herbals, vitamins, nutritional supplements, over-the-counter drugs, vaccines, diagnostic and contrast agents, radioactive medications, parenteral nutrition, blood derivatives, and intravenous solutions in the medication reconciliation process.

Some of these products may interact with prescribed medications or affect laboratory results.

B. Review the skill level and qualifications of each AP.

Before delegating tasks, the nurse should assess the skill level and qualifications of each AP to ensure they have the necessary knowledge and training to perform the assigned tasks safely and effectively.

D. Communicate appropriate tasks to the APs with specific expectations.

The nurse should clearly communicate the tasks to be delegated to each AP. This includes providing specific instructions, expectations, and any necessary information to ensure the APs understand what is expected of them and can perform the tasks correctly.

A. Monitor progress of task completion with each AP.

Once the tasks are assigned, the nurse should periodically check in with each AP to monitor the progress of task completion. This allows the nurse to provide support, answer questions, and ensure that tasks are being performed as expected.

C. Evaluate the APs' performance of each task.

After the tasks are completed, the nurse should evaluate the APs' performance of each task. This evaluation helps identify any areas for improvement, additional training needs, and overall competency of the APs.

Delegating tasks to assistive personnel is an essential aspect of nursing practice. Following this sequence of steps helps ensure that tasks are delegated appropriately and that the care provided is safe, efficient, and aligned with the APs' capabilities. Regular communication and feedback are essential to effective task delegation and teamwork within the healthcare setting.