A nurse is caring for a client in an emergency department (ED).

Exhibits

The nurse reviews the Nurses’ Notes from Day 1 at 1100.
Select 4 tasks the nurse should plan to delegate to the assistive personnel.

A. Perform daily weights: Daily weights are important to monitor progress and detect fluid or nutritional changes. This routine, non-invasive task is appropriate for delegation to assistive personnel (AP) under nurse supervision.

B. Identify thoughts that reinforce disordered eating patterns: Requires therapeutic communication and assessment, which are nursing responsibilities. Not appropriate for delegation to AP.

C. Accompany the client to the restroom following meals: Clients with bulimia are at risk of vomiting or purging after eating. Having an AP accompany the client helps prevent self-induced vomiting and ensures compliance with the treatment plan. The AP should report any unusual behavior to the nurse.

D. Observe the client during meals: Monitoring during meals ensures the client eats appropriately and avoids concealing or discarding food. This is a behavioral safety measure that can be delegated, while the nurse focuses on therapeutic interventions.

E. Consult the dietitian to determine the client’s caloric intake: Consulting other team members is a nursing role, involving coordination of interdisciplinary care.

F. Use cognitive behavioral techniques to address the client’s behavior: CBT and psychotherapy require specialized knowledge and are conducted by nurses or mental health professionals, not assistive personnel.

G. Discuss measures to assist the client to develop a positive body image: Involves therapeutic communication and counseling, not within the AP’s scope.

H. Encourage the client to discuss feelings of new eating patterns: Addressing emotions and behavioral change is a therapeutic intervention requiring nursing judgment.

I. Check the client’s vital signs: Vital signs provide data about orthostatic hypotension, dehydration, or arrhythmia risk. The AP can collect this data, while the nurse evaluates and interprets the results.