A nurse is delegating client care assignments for the upcoming shift. Which of the following tasks should the nurse plan to delegate to the assistive personnel (AP)?

The nurse should prioritize the client who requests pain medication as their need is likely the most urgent. Pain management is an important aspect of nursing care and addressing the client's pain should be a priority.

The other clients have needs that are important but not as urgent as the client in pain. The client who wants a bath can wait until the nurse has addressed more pressing needs. The client who asks to review instructions about their new prescription can also wait, as long as they are not in immediate danger. The client who needs a referral for home health services can also wait until the nurse has addressed more urgent needs.

The nurse should have the AP perform the task of feeding a school-age client who has burns on both upper extremities first. This task is a high priority because it addresses the client's immediate need for nutrition and hydration. The client's burns may make it difficult for them to feed themselves, so the assistance of the AP is necessary to ensure that the client receives adequate nourishment.

The other tasks are also important, but they are not the highest priority in this situation. Collecting a stool sample for ova and parasites from a toddler [b] and bathing an adolescent client who is disabled [c] are routine tasks that can be performed as time permits. Ambulating a preschooler who is postoperative to the playroom [d] is also important for promoting mobility and recovery, but it is not as urgent as addressing the immediate need for nutrition and hydration.