The practical nurse (PN) receives shift report for four newborns in the full-term newborn nursery. Which infant should the PN assess first?

The correct answer is **b. Oral feeding of a two-year-old child after application of a hip spica cast.**

Choice A rationale:

Participation in staff rounds to record notes regarding client goals is not an appropriate task to delegate to a UAP. This task requires clinical assessment, judgment, and documentation skills that are within the scope of practice of a licensed practical nurse (PN), but not a UAP.

Choice B rationale:

Oral feeding of a two-year-old child after application of a hip spica cast is an appropriate task that the PN can delegate to a UAP. Feeding a stable patient is a routine task that does not require advanced nursing skills or clinical judgment. As long as the child is not at high risk for complications, this task can be safely delegated to a UAP with proper training and supervision.

Choice C rationale:

Evaluation of a client's incisional pain following narcotic administration is not an appropriate task to delegate to a UAP. This task requires clinical assessment, evaluation of medication effects, and critical thinking skills that are within the scope of practice of a PN, but not a UAP.

Choice D rationale:

Assessment of the placement and patency of a nasogastric feeding tube is not an appropriate task to delegate to a UAP. This task requires specialized nursing skills and clinical judgment to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the feeding tube. It is within the scope of practice of a PN, but not a UAP.

The correct answer is choice B: Thinning of the skin with loss of elasticity.

Choice A rationale:

While a decreased ability to communicate can be a significant challenge in elderly clients, it is not the primary physical characteristic of aging that contributes to the risk of pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcers develop due to prolonged pressure on specific areas of the skin, leading to reduced blood flow and tissue damage.
Choice B rationale:

Thinning of the skin with loss of elasticity is a critical physical characteristic of aging that contributes to the risk of pressure ulcers. As the skin becomes thinner and less elastic with age, it becomes more susceptible to injury from pressure and shear forces, increasing the likelihood of developing pressure ulcers.

Choice C rationale:

A 16 percent increase in overall body fat does not directly contribute to the risk of pressure ulcers. While changes in body composition occur with aging, the primary risk factors for pressure ulcers are related to skin integrity and mobility, not body fat percentage.

Choice D rationale:

Calcium loss in the bones (osteoporosis) is not the main contributing factor to pressure ulcers. Osteoporosis primarily affects bone density and strength but does not directly influence the development of pressure ulcers.