A nurse is assisting with teaching a class about medically futile treatment. The nurse should include which of the following as an example of medically futile treatment?

Choice A reason: This task is unsafe to assign to an AP, as it requires clinical judgment and critical thinking skills that are beyond the scope of practice of an AP. A confused surgical client who has multiple tubes may be at risk of complications such as infection, bleeding, or dislodgement of the tubes. The nurse is responsible for monitoring the client's condition, assessing the tubes' function and placement, and intervening as needed.

Choice B reason: This task is safe to assign to an AP, as it does not involve direct client care or clinical decision making. Providing postmortem care for a client who has died involves preparing the body for transport, removing any tubes or devices, and ensuring respect and dignity for the deceased and their family. The nurse should supervise and instruct the AP on how to perform this task according to the facility's policies and procedures.

Choice C reason: This task is safe to assign to an AP, as it is part of the basic care and comfort activities that an AP can perform under the nurse's delegation. Assisting a client to eat who has difficulty seeing the foods on the tray involves helping the client identify the food items, cutting or opening them if needed, and encouraging adequate intake. The nurse should ensure that the client has no dietary restrictions or swallowing difficulties before assigning this task to the AP.

Choice D reason: This task is safe to assign to an AP, as it is a routine and noninvasive procedure that an AP can perform under the nurse's direction. Delivering a client’s urine specimen to the laboratory involves labeling the specimen container, placing it in a biohazard bag, and transporting it to the designated area. The nurse should provide the AP with clear instructions on how to collect and handle the specimen.

Choice A reason: Preventing opioid use is not a benefit of de-escalation techniques. Opioid use is a complex issue that involves biological, psychological, and social factors, and cannot be prevented by simply deescalating emotional situations. De-escalation techniques may help to calm or soothe someone who is experiencing pain or distress, but they do not address the underlying causes or consequences of opioid use.

Choice B reason: Increasing communication is not a benefit of de-escalation techniques, but a means or a strategy to achieve de-escalation. Communication is an essential skill that helps to deescalate emotional situations by listening, validating, empathizing, and problem solving with the other person. Communication can also help to prevent or reduce conflicts, misunderstandings, and aggression. However, communication is not an outcome or a result of de-escalation, but a process or a tool to facilitate de-escalation.

Choice C reason: Decreasing hallucinations is not a benefit of de-escalation techniques. Hallucinations are perceptual disturbances that involve seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, or tasting things that are not there. Hallucinations can be caused by various factors, such as mental disorders, neurological conditions, substance use, or medication side effects. De-escalation techniques may help to manage or cope with hallucinations, but they do not treat or eliminate them.

Choice D reason: Reducing restraint use is a benefit of de-escalation techniques. Restraint use is a practice that involves restricting the movement or behavior of a person who poses a risk of harm to themselves or others. Restraint use can have negative effects on the physical and psychological wellbeing of the person, such as injuries, infections, agitation, and trauma. De-escalation techniques can help to avoid or minimize the need for restraint use by resolving or calming emotional situations in a safe and respectful manner.