Question

A nurse is assigned to care for the following patients who all need vital signs taken right now. Which patient is most appropriate for the nurse to delegate vital sign measurement to the nursing assistive personnel (NAP)?

a.Patient scheduled for a procedure in the nuclear medicine department
b.Patient transferring from the intensive care unit (ICU)
c.Patient returning from a cardiac catheterization
d.Patient returning from hip replacement surgery

Answer 1

The most appropriate patient for the nurse to delegate vital sign measurement would be the patient returning from hip replacement surgery.

Step-by-step explanation:

When deciding which patient is most appropriate for the nurse to delegate vital sign measurement to the nursing assistive personnel (NAP), it is important to consider the complexity and acuity of the patient's condition.

In this scenario, the patient who is most appropriate for the NAP to measure vital signs would be the patient returning from hip replacement surgery. After a hip replacement surgery, vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature are generally stable and routine, requiring less frequent and intensive monitoring compared to patients in the nuclear medicine department, transferring from the intensive care unit (ICU), or returning from a cardiac catheterization.

This delegation allows the nurse to prioritize and focus on patients with more complex medical needs, while still ensuring that vital signs are properly monitored and recorded for the patient returning from hip replacement surgery.