Delegation & SOP
Which task can an RN delegate to a UAP for a stable patient?
What is assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs)?
Which prioritization framework is used by RNs to first address airway, breathing, and circulation in client care?
What is the ABC framework?
What is the primary ethical principle involved when a nurse advocates for a patient’s right to refuse treatment?
What is autonomy?
What is the communication technique where a nurse provides clear, structured information about a patient’s situation to the healthcare team?
What is SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation)?
What is an essential resource in healthcare that includes both equipment and staffing for safe patient care?
What are physical and human resources?
What is a key component that must be included when obtaining informed consent from a patient?
What are risks, benefits, and alternatives of the procedure?
Who is responsible for assessing the competence of a UAP to perform a delegated task?
Who is the RN?
When faced with multiple patients, which should the RN assess first: a client reporting chest pain, one with abdominal pain, a COPD patient with O2 Sat of 92%, one requesting to use the restroom or one with a minor post-op dressing change?
What is the client reporting chest pain?
Which action should a nurse take first upon observing another healthcare provider engaging in unsafe practice?
What is report the unsafe practice through the proper channels?
What conflict resolution strategy involves finding a middle ground between two parties to resolve an issue?
What is compromising?
If an RN identifies a shortage of necessary equipment, what is the most appropriate next action?
What is inform the charge nurse or unit manager to ensure the need is documented and addressed?
When a patient decides not to sign a consent form, what should the nurse document?
What is the patient’s refusal to sign and any related information provided to the patient?
A nurse on a busy unit works with an LPN and UAP—patient in room 210A c/o mild pain. What task related to pain is appropriate to delegate to the LPN?
What is administering oral medications to a stable patient?
You have three patients: one needing discharge teaching, one with anxiety over a procedure scheduled in an hour, and another experiencing acute pain. Which patient should be your priority and why?
What is the patient experiencing acute pain?
A terminally ill patient refuses further pain medication due to personal beliefs. How should the nurse respond to ensure ethical care?
What is respect the patient's decision, support their choice, and document their refusal?
A team member frequently avoids addressing conflicts with colleagues. Which conflict management style does this represent?
What is avoidance?
An RN is managing care on an understaffed unit. What can the RN do to ensure patient care quality with limited resources?
What is prioritize patient needs, focus on essential tasks, and delegate when appropriate?
If a patient seems confused about the details of a procedure after speaking with the provider, what should the RN do to ensure informed consent?
What is request that the provider clarify the procedure and answer the patient’s questions?
A post-op patient’s blood pressure drops, and you have an LPN and UAP on the team. Which task should the RN assign to the LPN in this situation?
What is monitoring vital signs every 15 minutes?
An RN has several tasks: medication administration, wound dressing, and patient discharge. How should the nurse prioritize these tasks when the wound dressing is due first, but the patient discharge will open a new bed?
What is complete the wound dressing first if it's time-sensitive, then discharge the patient to free up a bed.
A patient’s family requests life-sustaining treatment that conflicts with the patient’s documented wishes. What action should the RN take to advocate for the patient?
What is communicate and uphold the patient's documented wishes, discussing the ethical implications with the family if necessary.
The charge nurse observes tension between team members regarding assignment fairness. What should be the nurse's first step to resolve this conflict?
What is hold a team meeting to openly discuss concerns and work toward a resolution?
How does efficient resource management impact patient outcomes on a unit?
What is improves patient safety, satisfaction, and reduces the risk of errors?
How should an RN handle informed consent for a patient who does not speak the same language and requires interpretation?
What is arrange for a qualified medical interpreter to ensure accurate communication and comprehension?
A patient with respiratory distress requires frequent suctioning. Considering delegation, to whom should this task be assigned, and why?
IWhat is assign the task to the LPN if the patient is stable, as the LPN can perform suctioning under RN supervision, ensuring continuity of care.
You have two high-acuity patients, both requiring complex care. How should you allocate tasks among your team to ensure both receive adequate care and monitoring?
What is assign tasks that require advanced clinical judgment to the RN, delegate stable monitoring tasks to the LPN, and routine non-clinical tasks to the UAP.
A client with dementia requires a surgical procedure, but cannot provide informed consent. How should the RN advocate for the client’s rights in this situation?
What is involve the client’s legal guardian or healthcare proxy to obtain consent, ensuring that the client’s rights are respected.
An RN has safety concerns about a medication order from a provider. How should the nurse address the issue to ensure both patient safety and a respectful approach to the provider?
What is communicate the concerns clearly using SBAR, offer evidence-based alternatives, and emphasize patient safety.
You are leading a team with limited staff and supplies. How would you approach task allocation and prioritize resources for optimal patient care?
What is allocate high-priority tasks based on patient acuity, communicate with the team about available resources, and escalate needs to leadership for additional support.
A client’s spouse wants to sign consent for a surgical procedure, but there is no documented legal authority. How should the RN proceed to uphold legal and ethical standards?
What is verify legal authority, check for a power of attorney or healthcare proxy, and contact the appropriate decision-maker if needed.