A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is planning care for four clients. Which of the following tasks should the nurse delegate to an assistive personnel (AP)?

Choice A rationale:

A client who needs assistance when ambulating is an important consideration for care, but it does not necessarily require a priority referral. The nurse can assess the client's mobility and coordinate assistance within the rehabilitation unit as needed.

Choice B rationale:

A client who consistently has difficulty using utensils while eating is a concern for occupational therapy or speech therapy, but it is not an immediate priority. The client's difficulty with eating utensils can be addressed through therapeutic interventions within the rehabilitation setting.

Choice C rationale:

A client who has expressive aphasia requires a priority referral because this indicates potential communication difficulties that could hinder the client's ability to express needs, understand instructions, and participate in therapy. Expressive aphasia can impact the client's overall rehabilitation progress and safety.

Choice D rationale:

A client who consistently coughs after drinking liquids might require assessment and intervention, but it does not present an immediate priority. The nurse can address this concern within the rehabilitation unit and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team as needed.

Choice A rationale:

In the "background" portion of the SBAR communication tool, the nurse should include the client's present condition. This information provides the provider with context and a clear understanding of the client's current status. It helps the provider to have a baseline understanding before moving on to the assessment and recommendation stages of the communication. Including the client's present condition allows the provider to quickly grasp the urgency and severity of the situation, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding the client's care.

Choice B rationale:

Suggestions for the provider regarding client care are typically included in the "assessment" or "recommendation" portions of the SBAR communication tool, rather than the "background" portion. The "background" portion is focused on providing information about the current situation and the client's present condition, setting the stage for the rest of the communication.

Choice C rationale:

Physical findings are part of the assessment and observation of the client's current condition. While important, these findings are better suited for the "assessment" portion of the SBAR communication. The nurse should summarize the physical findings in the "assessment" section after providing the context in the "background" section.

Choice D rationale:

Previous treatments are also relevant information, but they belong in the "assessment" or "background" portions of the SBAR communication tool. The nurse should provide the provider with information about the client's current condition before discussing previous treatments, as the provider needs to know the current situation before considering the relevance of past interventions.