Question

A nurse is planning to delegate the post-operative care of a client following an appendectomy. Which of the following actions should the nurse assign to an assistive personnel? a) Administer IV antibiotics. b) Assess the client's surgical incision. c) Provide discharge instructions to the client. d) Assist the client with ambulation in the hallway.

Answer 1

D.

Step-by-step explanation:

Delegating tasks to assistive personnel should be done in accordance with their scope of practice and the client's condition. In this scenario, assisting the client with ambulation in the hallway is an appropriate task for an assistive personnel (e.g., nursing assistant or orderly) as long as the client's condition allows for it. Ambulation is a basic activity of daily living, and it can help prevent complications such as deep vein thrombosis and promote the client's recovery.

Tasks like administering IV antibiotics (a) and assessing the surgical incision (b) typically require a higher level of training and should be performed by licensed nursing staff (e.g., registered nurse). Providing discharge instructions (c) involves a comprehensive understanding of the client's condition and post-operative care, so it is also typically the responsibility of a registered nurse or healthcare provider.