Basic Nursing 1st Edition by Judith Wilkinson, Leslie Treas

Exercise 10

Think about the following situations, then answer the questions. More than one answer may be acceptable. Compare your ideas with those of other students, and if you have any questions, consult your instructor.
• Suppose you are a nurse in a healthcare setting where the policy states that nursing assistive personnel (NAP) can take vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respirations).You have a patient who is critically ill and whose condition is changing rapidly.Would you measure the vital signs or delegate the task to the NAP? Why or why not?
• Imagine that you are a nurse in the same hospital on a different day.All but one NAP have called in sick today because of an influenza outbreak.This NAP is inexperienced and overwhelmed by her tasks.Would you bathe the patients in your caseload (even though that is usually done by a NAP), or would you ask the NAP to do it? Why or why not?
It is obvious from the previous examples that you must use good judgment when applying standards and policies and deciding when to delegate assessments.