The nurse in a long-term care setting wants to delegate the task of ambulating an elderly client with a walker to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Before delegating a task to the UAP, the nurse should first ensure which of the following is accomplished?
The client is comfortable with the UAP assisting them.
The UAP is comfortable with performing the task.
The UAP has performed the task previously.
The UAP is approved to perform this task based on a credentialing process approved by the facility.
Number 4 is correct.
Before delegating tasks to the UAP, the nurse must ensure the UAP’s competency is verified by the facility. Such verification may result from an external certification authority or the facility itself. Neither the client’s comfort level with the UAP nor the UAP’s comfort performing the task is relevant to the appropriate delegation of the task. The task previously being performed by the UAP fails to ensure verification of competency.
