A nurse is preparing to administer vancomycin 500 mg via intermittent IV infusion every 6 hr. Available is vancomycin 500 mg in 0.9% sodium chloride 100 mL to infuse over 2 hr. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.).

Choice A rationale:

Verifying placement of a nasogastric tube requires specialized training and knowledge to ensure correct placement and prevent complications. The nurse should retain this task to ensure patient safety.

Choice B rationale:

Evaluating a client's understanding of how to use crutches involves assessing the client's comprehension and ability to use crutches safely and effectively. This task requires nursing judgment and should not be delegated to an assistive personnel.

Choice C rationale:

Replacing the gauze on a skin abrasion is a task that can be safely assigned to an assistive personnel. It involves basic wound care, which typically falls within the scope of practice for assistive personnel. The AP can be trained to follow established protocols for wound cleaning and dressing changes.

Choice D rationale:

Monitoring bowel sounds requires clinical judgment and the ability to recognize variations from the normal range. The nurse should perform this task, as it involves assessing the client's condition and making appropriate decisions based on the findings.

Choice A rationale:

The neighbor is not authorized to provide consent for the client's procedure. The durable power of attorney for health care typically designates someone to make medical decisions when the client is unable to do so, but the neighbor's role may not extend to medical procedure consent.

Choice B rationale:

The client's spouse might have a legal standing to make decisions for the client, but the durable power of attorney for health care typically takes precedence over the spouse's decision-making authority in situations where it has been established.

Choice C rationale:

The provider, in this case, the medical doctor or healthcare professional performing the endoscopy, has the authority to obtain consent for the procedure. Informed consent is a crucial ethical and legal requirement, and the provider must ensure that the client or their designated decision-maker understands the procedure, its risks, and benefits before proceeding.

Choice D rationale:

A member of the facility's ethics committee does not typically have the authority to provide consent for a specific medical procedure on behalf of an incapacitated client. The ethics committee's role is to provide guidance on ethical dilemmas and issues but not to provide individual procedural consent.