A nurse is monitoring a client’s oxygen saturation using a pulse oximeter. The client’s oxygen saturation is 88% on 2 L/min of oxygen via nasal cannula.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

The correct answer is choice B: Explain to the client that they cannot leave until the surgeon discharges them.

Choice B rationale: The nurse should explain the importance of following the surgeon's orders and the potential consequences of leaving before being officially discharged. This approach provides patient education and promotes collaboration between the client and the health care team. It also ensures the client understands that leaving without proper discharge could lead to complications or inadequate recovery.

Choice A rationale: Threatening the client with restraints is not an appropriate action, as it may cause undue stress and escalate the situation. Restraints should only be used as a last resort in cases where the client poses an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others.

Choice C rationale: While having the client sign an against medical advice (AMA) form might be appropriate if the client insists on leaving, the nurse should first attempt to educate the client on the importance of following the surgeon's orders and collaborate with the client to resolve any concerns or issues leading to their desire to leave.

Choice D rationale: Administering a sedative medication is not an appropriate action in this situation. Sedation should only be used when medically necessary and not as a means to control a client's behavior or decisions.

- 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.