Question

Which situations demonstrate effective delegation by the RN to the LPN?

Select all that apply
a) The RN delegates complex wound care to the LPN and provides clear instructions on the specific steps to follow.
b) The RN delegates the administration of a blood transfusion to the LPN and ensures the LPN has received the necessary training.
c) The RN delegates the assessment of a patient's response to a new medication to the LPN, providing guidance on what to monitor.
d) The RN delegates the development of a nursing care plan to the LPN, allowing the LPN to exercise independent judgment.
e) The RN delegates the administration of intravenous (IV) chemotherapy to the LPN, recognizing the LPN's competence in this area.
f) The RN delegates the interpretation of diagnostic test results to the LPN, assuming the LPN's familiarity with the relevant protocols.

Answer 1

Effective delegation by an RN to an LPN includes tasks such as complex wound care with clear instructions and monitoring a patient's response to new medications, which are within the LPN's scope. It does not include administering blood transfusions, developing nursing care plans, IV chemotherapy, or interpreting diagnostic results, as those exceed typical LPN scope of practice.

Step-by-step explanation:

Effective delegation in nursing is a critical skill for ensuring efficient and safe patient care. When an RN delegates tasks to an LPN, it is important that these tasks are within the LPN's scope of practice, align with their training, and the RN provides appropriate supervision.

The situations that demonstrate effective delegation by the RN to the LPN are:

a) The RN delegates complex wound care to the LPN and provides clear instructions on the specific steps to follow. Here, the RN is ensuring that the LPN has all the necessary information to perform the task safely and correctly.

c) The RN delegates the assessment of a patient's response to a new medication to the LPN, providing guidance on what to monitor. This appropriate delegation allows the LPN to utilize their skills while the RN provides guidance and ensures proper patient care.

However, tasks like administering blood transfusions, developing nursing care plans, administering IV chemotherapy, and interpreting diagnostic test results often fall outside the LPN's scope of practice and require the direct involvement or supervision of an RN or physician. Therefore, scenarios b, d, e, and f do not generally represent effective delegation practices in most settings.