Deck 13: Delegation of Nursing Tasks

Question 1

The nurse is working on a medical unit with an LPN and UAP as the team members.Which tasks should the RN delegate to the UAP?

A)Vital signs on all patients admitted on the previous shift
B)Vital signs on a patient being transferred from the ED
C)Vital signs on a patient being transferred from the ICU
D)Vital signs on a newly admitted stable patient

Answer 1

Vital signs on all patients admitted on the previous shift

Question 2

Which of the following delegations by the RN would require an immediate intervention by the charge RN?

A)A UAP removes the wrist restraints on a patient and provides ROM exercises when giving a bath.
B)An LPN assists a patient back to bed from the bathroom.
C)A UAP replaces the monitor electrodes on a patient after he has taken a shower.
D)An LPN assesses LOC on a stable patient 3 days after surgery.

Answer 2

A UAP replaces the monitor electrodes on a patient after he has taken a shower.

Question 3

After receiving the shift report, which of the following requires a priority action by the nurse?

A)Discontinue an IV line from an insertion site that appears red and at which the patient complains of pain.
B)Make assignments for the team.
C)Talk to a patient who has changed his mind about having a procedure today.
D)Round on all the patients on their team.

Answer 3

Discontinue an IV line from an insertion site that appears red and at which the patient complains of pain.

Question 4

The charge nurse in the ICU receives a call from the ED.They have three patients who require a bed.Which patient should be transferred first?

A)A patient admitted with an acute MI who is in the cardiac catheterization lab now for an intervention
B)A patient admitted with an acute MI and a history of CABG on a nitroglycerin drip to manage ischemic pain and tissue perfusion
C)A patient in sickle cell crisis with a PCA pump to manage his pain
D)A patient in DKA for new-onset diabetes mellitus

Question 5

Which of the following delegations by the RN would require an immediate intervention by the charge RN?

A)An LPN administers IVP Lasix (furosemide) to a patient in heart failure.
B)An RN administers IVP Lasix (furosemide) to a patient in heart failure.
C)An LPN obtains a blood glucose level on a diabetic patient.
D)An RN obtains a blood glucose level on a diabetic patient.

Question 6

Which of the following patients should the nurse see first after the shift report?

A)A patient with a change in heart rhythm who is complaining of lightheadedness
B)A patient with a newly placed pacemaker who is complaining of shoulder pain
C)A patient in heart failure on afterload reducers with a blood pressure 96/60 mm Hg
D)A patient in first-degree heart block

Question 7

The nurse is working on a medical unit with an LPN and UAP as the team members.Which tasks should the RN complete?

A)Vital signs on a patient admitted from the ED
B)Turning a patient who had a CVA 4 days ago
C)Feeding a patient requiring assistance
D)Recording the I&O on a patient on strict fluid restrictions

Question 8

Which of the following delegations by the RN would require an immediate intervention by the charge RN?

A)A UAP checks a diabetic patient's blood glucose level.
B)An LPN assesses a patient after a fall.
C)The charge nurse makes changes to the assignments after staff is "pulled" to another area.
D)An RN assists with administering medication to another nurse's patients during a code.

Question 9

When incorporating the five rights of delegation, the right circumstance is used in which of the following situations?

A)The RN asks the UAP to draw a prothrombin time on a patient on a heparin drip.
B)The RN asks the UAP to draw blood on a patient with bilateral upper extremity lymphedema.
C)The RN asks the UAP to draw blood on a newly admitted patient with pneumonia.
D)The RN asks a new UAP to draw blood on a patient known to be a "hard stick."

Question 10

The nurse is working on a medical unit with an LPN and UAP as the team members.Which tasks should the RN delegate to the LPN?

A)Vital signs on a patient about to arrive from the cardiac catheterization lab
B)Regulation of a patient's heparin drip based on the heparin nomogram
C)Regulation of a patient's nitroglycerin drip based on the level of pain
D)Administration of all oral medications for the team

Question 11

A patient turns his call light on and requests someone to help him ambulate.The senior student nurse has been caring for this patient for 2 days but has only helped him to a chair in the past.Which instructions should be given to the student prior to ambulation of the patient?

A)"The patient has been ambulated before but still requires some assistance."
B)"The patient has been ambulated before but is only able to walk with supervision and a walker."
C)"The patient is only able to walk with a walker for the length of the hallway."
D)"The patient has been ambulated before using a walker but needs his oxygen saturation checked if he complains of SOB (shortness of breath)."

Question 12

A UAP is asked to take a patient's temperature every 4 hours and report that temperature to the RN.Which best demonstrates the correct interpretation of right communication?

A)The UAP takes the temperature for the patient every 4 hours.
B)The UAP charts the temperature for the patient every 4 hours.
C)The UAP reports that the patient has been afebrile all day.
D)The UAP reports the temperature for the patient every 4 hours.

Question 13

The nurse is working on a medical unit with an LPN and a UAP as the team members.Which tasks should the RN complete?

A)Assignments of new admissions to staff
B)Regulation of heparin drip based on the heparin nomogram
C)Vital signs on patients admitted on previous shift
D)Dressing change for a patient 4 days post I&D of a pacemaker wound

Question 14

The nurse and UAP are working together with four patients.Which patient should the nurse assign the UAP?

A)A patient waiting for discharge instructions before going home
B)A patient who received morphine 20 minutes ago and now has the call light on
C)A patient with diabetes who needs her blood glucose checked
D)A patient returning from a bronchoscopy

Question 15

When incorporating the five rights of delegation, the right person is being used in which of the following situations?

A)The LPN initiates TPN to a patient as ordered.
B)The charge nurse designates a UAP to "float" to another unit.
C)The staff nurse trades weekends with another staff nurse.
D)The UAP assists a patient to the bathroom after an echocardiogram.

Question 16

A patient turns his call light on and states, "I'm having trouble breathing." Which team members should be delegated to respond to this call light?

A)RN
B)LPN
C)Senior student nurse
D)UAP

Question 17

When incorporating the five rights of delegation, the right communication is used when a patient's blood pressure is low in which of the following situations?

A)The RN tells the UAP to wait to give a patient a bath because her blood pressure is too low.
B)The RN tells a UAP to recheck the patient's blood pressure and report back to her before giving the patient a bath.
C)The UAP gives a bath to a patient with a low blood pressure.
D)The RN tells the UAP to give a patient a bath because they are unaware of the low blood pressure.

Question 18

Which of the following delegations require an immediate intervention by the charge RN?

A)A UAP ambulates a patient 24 hours after a cardiac catheterization.
B)A UAP ambulates a patient 24 hours after a bronchoscopy.
C)A UAP ambulates a patient 24 hours after a pneumonectomy.
D)A UAP ambulates a patient 24 hours after an echocardiogram.

Question 19

When incorporating the five rights of delegation, the right task is used in which situation?

A)The UAP reinforces use of the incentive spirometer to a patient.
B)The UAP teaches the patient to use the incentive spirometer.
C)The UAP listens to breath sounds to encourage the patient to use the incentive spirometer.
D)The UAP is not allowed to work with the patient regarding use of the incentive spirometer.

Question 20

When incorporating the five rights of delegation, the right supervision is used in which of the following situations?

A)The RN assesses a patient after the UAP reports a blood glucose level of 56 mg/dL.
B)The RN administers orange juice to a patient reported by the UAP to have a blood glucose level of 56 mg/dL.
C)The RN holds the morning insulin on a patient reported by the UAP to have a blood glucose level of 56 mg/dL.
D)The RN administers the morning insulin after assessing a patient reported by the UAP to have a blood glucose level of 56 mg/dL.

Question 21

An agency nurse is assigned to the thoracic surgery postoperative nursing unit.Which of the following would be the best action by the charge nurse?

A)Call the agency to determine her level of experience.
B)Assign the nurse to patients ready for discharge.
C)Assign her to pass medications only.
D)Ask the nurse about her level of experience.

Question 22

Which patients on an orthopedic unit should be assigned to a nurse from a cardiac unit?

A)A patient being transferred to an ECF for rehabilitation following a hip replacement
B)A patient following a hip replacement with a history of an acute MI 4 weeks ago
C)A patient with an external fixator
D)A patient to be started on a PCA pump requiring instructions

Question 23

A nurse must delegate some responsibilities of the care of patients on a particularly busy and chaotic day to the LPN and UAP team members.Which of the following can be appropriately delegated to the LPN?

A)Assisting with a central line insertion
B)Giving bath supplies to patients who are capable of bathing themselves
C)Rechecking the blood pressure on a patient who is having episodes of bigeminy and ventricular tachycardia
D)Transporting a patient in a wheelchair for discharge

Question 24

A nurse assesses a patient reported to have normal vital signs throughout the night and finds the patient in acute respiratory distress.What is the nurse's next best action?

A)Delegate vital signs to the UAP.
B)Ask another nurse to call the health care provider.
C)Call a code.
D)Start another peripheral IV line.

Question 25

Which order should be considered to have the highest priority when delivering care to a patient?

A)Albuterol treatment for a patient complaining of shortness of breath
B)IV diuretic for a patient in heart failure
C)Sliding-scale short-acting insulin
D)Antihypertensive for a patient admitted with negative cardiac enzymes

Question 26

Which delegation should a UAP consider to have the highest priority?

A)Obtaining a routine blood glucose level from a patient with diabetes
B)Giving a bath to a patient scheduled for a colonoscopy
C)Feeding a patient who needs assistance doing so.
D)Helping an older adult patient to the bathroom

Question 27

Which action by a UAP requires an immediate intervention by the nurse?

A)Encouraging a patient to use the incentive spirometer
B)Encouraging a patient to ambulate 2 days after surgery
C)Checking the pH of the gastric aspirate of a patient receiving tube feedings
D)Informing the RN that a patient requests a pain medication

Question 28

Which actions by the UAP would require immediate follow-up by the nurse?

A)Informing the nurse she was taking a break
B)Taking her lunch break on her home floor after being pulled to another floor
C)Asking the patient to let her know the next time he has a bowel movement
D)Asking another UAP to obtain a urine sample for her

Question 29

Which statement made by the clinical instructor would represent feedback to a student nurse?

A)"Explain to me the actions of this medication before you give it."
B)"Can you explain to me why Mr.W.did not receive a bath this morning?"
C)"Stop the urinary catheter insertion now.You have contaminated the catheter."
D)"You need to use your critical thinking skills when caring for patients."

Question 30

Which action by a UAP requires an immediate intervention by the nurse?

A)Application of a skin barrier/protection ointment
B)Releasing wrist restraints on a patient to allow ROM
C)Assisting a patient to the bedside commode
D)Obtaining a urine culture from a patient