Which task would be appropriate for delegation to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) by the practical nurse (PN)?

Which task would be appropriate for delegation to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) by the practical nurse (PN)?

• A. Assisting clients with morning ADLs including showering and shaving.
• B. Transporting a client with a fractured wrist to the cast clinic for cast placement.
• C. Administering intravenous medications.
• D. Performing sterile wound cultures.

Answer: (A)

The task being delegated should be a routine, safe activity that doesn’t require nursing assessment or invasive procedures. Assisting clients with morning activities of daily living, including showering and shaving, fits this: it’s basic hygiene and mobility support that a UAP can handle under supervision, helping the patient stay clean and comfortable while the PN focuses on assessment, medications, and more complex care. The other tasks involve elements that require nursing knowledge or sterile technique. Administering intravenous medications demands pharmacologic knowledge, IV access checks, and monitoring for adverse effects. Performing sterile wound cultures requires aseptic technique and clinical judgment. Transporting a patient can be appropriate in some settings if the patient is stable, but in this context those other responsibilities typically fall outside the UAP scope because they involve greater risk or specialized procedures.

The task being delegated should be a routine, safe activity that doesn’t require nursing assessment or invasive procedures. Assisting clients with morning activities of daily living, including showering and shaving, fits this: it’s basic hygiene and mobility support that a UAP can handle under supervision, helping the patient stay clean and comfortable while the PN focuses on assessment, medications, and more complex care.

The other tasks involve elements that require nursing knowledge or sterile technique. Administering intravenous medications demands pharmacologic knowledge, IV access checks, and monitoring for adverse effects. Performing sterile wound cultures requires aseptic technique and clinical judgment. Transporting a patient can be appropriate in some settings if the patient is stable, but in this context those other responsibilities typically fall outside the UAP scope because they involve greater risk or specialized procedures.