A nurse is planning care for a group of clients at the beginning of the shift. Which of the following tasks should the nurse assign to the licensed practical nurse (LPN)?

Rationale:

A. When opening a sterile package or tray, the top flap should be opened away from the body to prevent contamination from the nurse’s uniform. Opening the flap toward the body risks breaking sterile technique, which is especially critical during procedures like thoracentesis. This is a break in sterile field, and the nurse manager should intervene immediately to prevent potential infection.

B. Using clean gloves is appropriate for non-sterile tasks like discontinuing an IV infusion.

C.The telephone number is considered an acceptable identifier according to The Joint Commission if it is in the medical record and used in combination with another identifier (like full name or date of birth).

D. Emptying a colostomy pouch when it is one-third full is appropriate practice to prevent overflow and maintain hygiene.

Rationale:

A. Identifying changes within the family unit can be important but is not the immediate priority for medical stabilization.

B. Gaining weight is a critical goal for clients with anorexia nervosa to address their physical health and nutritional status.

C. Making positive statements about body image is helpful but secondary to the goal of weight gain.

D. Feeling in control of behavior is important for long-term recovery but is not the immediate priority compared to physical health.