A nurse delegates a task to an assistive personnel (AP) and the AP refuses to complete the assigned task. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. "Assign the task to another AP" is not the best first response. The nurse should first understand why the AP is refusing the task and address any concerns before reassigning the task. B. "Report the AP to the risk manager" is premature. The nurse should first attempt to understand the AP’s reasons for refusal and resolve any concerns directly. Reporting should only occur if the issue persists and cannot be resolved. C. "Discuss the AP's concerns about performing the task" is correct. The nurse should open a dialogue with the AP to understand why they are refusing the task. This allows the nurse to assess if the refusal is due to lack of knowledge, skill, or comfort, and then provide the necessary support, guidance, or training. D. "Perform the task on behalf of the AP" is not ideal. The nurse should not assume the task but rather address the issue with the AP. The nurse should only intervene if the task needs to be completed urgently, but the first step should be to explore the reasons for refusal.