A nurse is providing care for a client who is scheduled for electroconvulsive therapy. Which of the following conditions should the nurse identify as an increased risk for complications?

Rationale:
A. Assess the client's lung sounds prior to the infusion: Baseline lung assessment helps detect early signs of fluid overload or transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO), which is especially important in older adults.

B. Prime the infusion tubing with 0.45% sodium chloride: Only 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) is compatible with blood products. Hypotonic solutions such as 0.45% sodium chloride can cause hemolysis of red blood cells.

C. Don sterile gloves to prepare the blood administration setup: Clean gloves are sufficient for preparing and administering blood transfusions. Sterile gloves are not required unless performing a sterile procedure.

D. Verify with another nurse that the unit of blood is compatible with the client's blood type: Double verification of the client’s identity and blood compatibility prevents hemolytic transfusion reactions due to mismatched blood.

E. Infuse the blood over 4 hr: Each unit of packed RBCs should be transfused within no more than 4 hours to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination and hemolysis from prolonged infusion.

Rationale:
A. Obtaining the initial assessment of assigned clients: The initial assessment requires nursing judgment and clinical decision-making, which are within the scope of practice of a registered nurse only. It involves data interpretation and establishing a baseline for care, tasks that cannot be delegated to assistive personnel.

B. Educating a client and family members on home care: Client and family teaching requires specialized nursing knowledge to ensure understanding and accuracy. This task involves evaluating learning needs and reinforcing critical information, responsibilities that cannot be legally delegated to assistive personnel.

C. Changing a nonsterile dressing: Assistive personnel can safely perform nonsterile procedures such as changing a clean dressing under the supervision of a nurse. This task involves routine care that does not require nursing judgment, making it appropriate for delegation.

D. Interpreting a client's diagnostic laboratory results: Interpretation of laboratory data involves analysis, clinical reasoning, and the ability to make informed nursing decisions. These actions fall strictly within the nurse’s professional scope of practice and cannot be delegated to assistive personnel.