A nurse is making client care assignments for an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following tasks should the nurse assign to the AP?

A. Inspect the incision of a client who is postoperative following a leg amputation is incorrect. Inspecting an incision requires clinical assessment to identify signs of infection, dehiscence, or other complications, which should be performed by a licensed nurse.

B. Evaluate the need to suction the airway of a client who has a new tracheostomy is incorrect. Suctioning the airway of a client with a tracheostomy is a skilled task that requires assessment of the airway and airway management, which should be performed by a nurse.

C. Complete postmortem care for a client who has died is correct. Postmortem care, such as cleaning and preparing the body, is a task that can be delegated to an AP. The AP should not be involved in clinical assessments but can perform routine care under supervision.

D. Feed a client who has difficulty swallowing liquids following a stroke is incorrect. Feeding a client with swallowing difficulties requires careful monitoring and risk assessment for aspiration, which is outside the scope of tasks that can be delegated to an AP without proper training.

A. "This must be very frightening for you. Let's talk more about it.": This response demonstrates empathy and validation of the client's feelings, which can help build trust. It acknowledges the client's emotional state while not challenging or confronting their delusion directly. This approach helps maintain rapport while encouraging the client to express themselves.

B. "What makes you think the staff is following you?": This response could be perceived as questioning the validity of the client's experience, which may feel confrontational or invalidating. It is not the best approach for engaging a client with paranoid delusions.

C. “Why do you feel the staff is the FBI?": This question could also challenge the client's delusion and inadvertently reinforce their sense of being persecuted. Asking such a question might escalate anxiety rather than calm the client.

D. "The psychiatric staff is not FBI. They are here to help you.": While this response is factually correct, it may be perceived as dismissive of the client's experience. Confronting the delusion directly is generally not helpful and can increase the client's feelings of mistrust.