A registered nurse is preparing assignments for an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which task is appropriate to delegate to the UAP?
- A.Assessing the skin of a client who is 24 hours post-hip replacement
- B.Teaching a newly diagnosed diabetic client how to check blood glucose
- C.Measuring and recording oral fluid intake for a client on fluid restriction
- D.Titrating the oxygen flow rate for a client with COPD and oxygen saturation of 89%
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer
C. Measuring and recording oral fluid intake for a client on fluid restriction
Rationale
C is correct: Measuring and recording intake is a routine, non-clinical task that falls within a UAP's scope of practice. It requires no clinical judgment and can be supervised by the RN. A is incorrect: Skin assessment is a nursing assessment that requires clinical judgment and must be performed by a licensed nurse. B is incorrect: Patient teaching requires nursing knowledge and must be performed by a licensed nurse. D is incorrect: Titrating oxygen involves clinical decision-making based on assessment findings and is outside a UAP's scope.
Key concepts