A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is delegating tasks to an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following client care tasks is within the scope of practice for the AP?

Rationale for correct choices:

• Skin turgor: Poor skin turgor indicates dehydration, which can lead to electrolyte imbalances, hypotension, and renal complications. Immediate assessment and fluid management are necessary to prevent further physiological deterioration.
• Heart rate: A heart rate of 120/min is tachycardic. This can be caused by dehydration, stimulant effects of mania, or other underlying medical issues. It requires prompt monitoring and intervention to prevent cardiovascular compromise.
• Sleep pattern: The client has not slept for 2 days, which increases the risk for physical exhaustion, worsening psychiatric symptoms, and impaired judgment. Sleep deprivation in the context of mania requires immediate attention to stabilize the client.
• Hallucinations: The client reports listening to unseen others, indicating auditory hallucinations. This can pose a risk for self-harm or unsafe behaviors, and immediate psychiatric assessment and intervention are warranted.

Rationale for incorrect choice:

• Hygiene: While the client’s hair and clothing are unclean, indicating self-care deficits, this is not an immediate threat to physiological stability. It is important for overall care planning but does not require urgent intervention compared to dehydration, tachycardia, sleep deprivation, or hallucinations.

Rationale:

A. The client brushes her teeth twice daily: Brushing teeth at least twice a day is recommended to reduce plaque buildup, prevent tooth decay, and maintain oral health. This practice is consistent with standard personal hygiene guidelines.

B. The client wipes back to front when toileting: Wiping from back to front increases the risk of transferring bacteria from the anal area to the urethra, which can lead to urinary tract infections. The correct method is front to back.

C. The client washes her perineum first when bathing: The perineal area should be washed last to avoid transferring bacteria from this region to other parts of the body, especially the face. Washing it first increases the risk of cross-contamination.

D. The client takes a hot bubble bath every day: Daily hot bubble baths can dry out the skin and disrupt normal skin flora, potentially leading to irritation or infection. Mild, less frequent bathing with warm (not hot) water is healthier for skin integrity.