Nursing Prioritization Delegation Assignment Q 74
A patient with sleep apnea has a nursing diagnosis of Sleep Deprivation related to disrupted sleep cycle. Which action should you delegate to the nursing assistant?
A. Discuss weight-loss strategies such as diet and exercise with the patient.
B. Teach the patient how to set up the BiPAP machine before sleeping.
C. Remind the patient to sleep on his side instead of his back.
D. Administer modafinil (Provigil) to promote daytime wakefulness.
Correct Answer: C. Remind the patient to sleep on his side instead of his back.
The nursing assistant can remind patients about actions that have already been taught by the nurse and are part of the patient’s plan of care. The right person must be assigned to the right tasks and jobs under the right circumstances. The nurse who assigns the tasks and jobs must then communicate with and direct the person doing the task or job. The nurse supervises the person and determines whether or not the job was done in the correct, appropriate, safe, and competent manner.
Option A: Among the tasks that cannot be legally and appropriately delegated to nonprofessional, unlicensed assistive nursing personnel, such as nursing assistants, patient care technicians, and personal care aides, include assessments, nursing diagnosis, establishing expected outcomes, evaluating care, and any and all other tasks and aspects of care including but not limited to those that entail sterile technique, critical thinking, professional judgment, and professional knowledge.
Option B: The registered nurse must also ensure that the delegated tasks are permissible according to the nursing team members’ position description which is also referred to as the job description, and the particular facility’s specific policies and procedures relating to client care and who can and who cannot perform certain tasks.
Option D: Discussing and teaching require additional education and training. These actions are within the scope of practice of the RN. The RN can delegate the administration of medication to an LPN/LVN.