Nursing Prioritization Delegation Assignment Q 35
You are acting as a preceptor for a newly graduated RN during her second week of orientation. You would assign the new RN under your supervision to provide care to which patients? Select all that apply.
A. A 38-year old with moderate persistent asthma awaiting discharge.
B. A 63-year old with a tracheostomy needing tracheostomy care every shift.
C. A 56-year old with lung cancer who has just undergone left lower lobectomy.
D. A 49-year old just admitted with a new diagnosis of esophageal cancer.
Correct Answer: A and B.
Option A: A patient who is waiting for discharge may be stable enough for the care of the student nurse. The client is the center of care. The needs of the client must be competently met with the knowledge, skills and abilities of the staff to meet these needs.
Option B: The new RN is at an early point in her orientation. The most appropriate patients to assign to her are those in stable condition who require routine care. In other words, the nurse who delegates aspects of care to other members of the nursing team must balance the needs of the client with the abilities of those to which the nurse is delegating tasks and aspects of care, among other things such as the scopes of practice and the policies and procedures within the particular healthcare facility.
Option C: The patient with the lobectomy will require the care of a more experienced nurse, who will perform frequent assessments and monitoring for postoperative complications. Some needs require high levels of professional judgment and skill; and other patient needs are somewhat routine and without the need for high levels of professional judgment and skill.
Option D: The patient admitted with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer will also benefit from care by an experienced nurse. This patient may have questions and needs a comprehensive admission assessment. As the new nurse advances through her orientation, you will want to work with her in providing care for these patients with more complex needs.