The nurse is working with an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) in the medical-surgical unit. Which client should be assigned to the UAP?

  1. a client with cervical cancer who has an internal radiation implant
  2. a client who is receiving blood as treatment for hypovolemic shock
  3. a client who had an abdominal wound dehiscence 24 hours earlier and requires dressing changes
  4. a client who is post-op day 2 following a laparoscopic hernia repair and gets up to the chair for meals
Number 4 is correct.
Rationale: The client who is post-op day 2 following a hernia repair and getting up to the chair is the most stable client for the UAP. Clients with internal radiation implants require special safety precautions, and all care personnel must be properly trained. Special handling procedures are required should the implant become dislodged and are beyond the scope of practice for a UAP. The client receiving blood for hypovolemic shock is potentially unstable and is at greater risk for an emergency than the more stable client who can get up to the chair. Wound dehiscence is a serious complication of abdominal surgery and requires special management, including dressing changes. The nurse may not delegate dressing changes to UAPs. The nurse is ultimately responsible for delegating tasks to the appropriate personnel and determining that the person is able to perform the task safely and correctly.