A nurse is coordinating care of a group of clients with an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following tasks should the nurse assign to the AP?

Correct Answer: C

C. Flex hips and knees when assisting the client to a standing position.Flexing the hips and knees protects the nurse’s back by using proper body mechanics and distributes the force of lifting safely. This position provides stability and reduces the risk of injury to both the nurse and the client during the transfer.

Incorrect answers:

A: "Stand on the client's stronger side when moving the client into the chair."The nurse should stand on the weaker side, not the stronger side, to provide support and assistance where it is most needed. This ensures the client is stabilized and prevents falls or instability due to the weaker side giving way.

B: "Pivot on the foot farthest from the bed when assisting the client into the chair."The nurse should pivot on the foot closest to the chair or the bed to maintain balance and stability. Pivoting on the farthest foot could lead to poor body mechanics and an increased risk of injury to the nurse or client.

D: "Raise the bed to waist level before moving the client." For transferring a client to a chair, the bed should be lowered to a position where the client’s feet can touch the floor. This provides stability and facilitates a safe transfer.

Choice A Reason:

Urinating after the specimen collection is incorrect. While it's important to ensure urine doesn't contaminate the stool specimen during collection, the instruction to urinate after the collection doesn't directly impact the collection process itself. The primary focus is on avoiding contamination of the stool sample with urine or toilet tissue during collection.

Choice B Reason:

Placing 1.3 cm (0.5 in) of formed stool into a culture tube is incorrect. The amount of stool needed for a specimen can vary based on the specific test requirements or laboratory instructions. A fixed measurement, like 1.3 cm of formed stool, might not accurately represent the necessary quantity for all types of stool tests. Specific instructions from the healthcare provider or laboratory should be followed for proper collection.

Choice C Reason:

Keeping the specimen in a warm area is incorrect. Stool specimens are typically collected and stored at room temperature unless otherwise specified by specific test instructions. Placing the specimen in a warm area could alter the characteristics of the sample or promote bacterial growth, potentially affecting test accuracy. The specimen should be handled according to the specific requirements outlined for the particular test.

Choice D Reason:

Avoid placing toilet tissue in the bedpan after defecation is correct. Placing toilet tissue in the bedpan after defecation can contaminate the stool specimen, affecting the accuracy of test results. It's important to collect the stool sample without any contamination from toilet tissue or urine.