A nurse is assisting with scoliosis screenings for students at a public school.
Which of the following findings should the nurse recognize as an indication of scoliosis?

- When coordinating the care of a group of clients with assistive personnel (AP), it's important to delegate tasks appropriately based on the AP's scope of practice and training. Here are the tasks that can be assigned to the AP:

Measure the intake and output of a client who has received furosemide: This task involves recording fluid intake and output, which is typically within the scope of practice for an AP, as long as they have been trained in the proper procedure and documentation.

Check a client’s peripheral IV site for redness or swelling: This task involves basic assessment and can be assigned to an AP, as long as they are familiar with the signs of potential complications related to IV sites and have been trained in the facility's protocol for reporting any issues.

Reinforcing teaching with a client about crutch-gait walking: Education and reinforcement of information provided by healthcare professionals can often be delegated to APs, especially if they have received training on the specific topic. However, it's important to ensure that the AP is knowledgeable about crutch-gait walking and the information they are reinforcing.

The task related to assessing pain (e.g., assessing the pain level of a client who has received acetaminophen) should generally be performed by a licensed healthcare provider, such as a nurse. Assessment of pain requires a deeper understanding of the client's pain experience and may involve making clinical decisions related to pain management.

The correct answer is choice A: "I will speak with your provider on your behalf."

Choice A rationale: The principle of advocacy in nursing involves supporting and speaking up for clients to ensure their rights, needs, and preferences are respected. By offering to speak with the provider on the client's behalf, the nurse demonstrates advocacy by actively working to represent the client's interests and facilitate communication between the client and the health care team.

Choice B rationale: While promising to fulfill commitments is an aspect of maintaining professional integrity, it does not directly demonstrate advocacy. Advocacy is more about actively supporting the client's rights and needs rather than personal dedication to fulfilling promises.

Choice C rationale: Maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of client information is essential in nursing practice, but it is not specifically related to advocacy. Privacy is a separate ethical principle that focuses on protecting the client's personal information and upholding their right to privacy.

Choice D rationale: Encouraging clients to make decisions about their health care is important for promoting autonomy. However, advocacy involves actively supporting the client's decisions and ensuring their rights are respected, rather than simply allowing them to make decisions.