A nurse is assisting with the plan of care for a group of clients. Which of the following tasks should the nurse delegate to an assistive personnel?

Delegation in nursing involves assigning appropriate tasks to assistive personnel (AP) based on the client’s stability, complexity of care, and the level of skill required. Tasks delegated to AP should be routine, noninvasive, and not require nursing judgment, assessment, teaching, or sterile technique. The nurse remains responsible for supervision and evaluation of delegated care. Understanding safe delegation helps maintain patient safety and efficient workload management. Rationale: A. Observing the patency of an intravenous catheter requires assessment skills and nursing judgment to identify complications such as infiltration, phlebitis, or occlusion. Evaluation of IV function involves interpreting findings and determining the need for intervention. Because assessment cannot be delegated to assistive personnel, this task remains the nurse’s responsibility. B. Performing a gastrostomy feeding on a stable client involves clinical skill, aspiration risk assessment, and monitoring of tolerance during and after feeding. It requires knowledge of tube placement verification and recognition of complications such as residual intolerance or respiratory distress. This task should be performed by licensed nursing personnel rather than assistive personnel. C. Providing postmortem care to a client is an appropriate task for assistive personnel when directed by the nurse and according to facility policy. It is a routine, noninvasive task that does not require assessment or clinical judgment. The nurse ensures that legal documentation and family support are addressed, while AP may assist with body care and preparation. D. Changing a sterile dressing for a postoperative client requires sterile technique and assessment of wound healing, drainage, and signs of infection. It involves nursing judgment and infection prevention responsibilities that cannot be delegated to assistive personnel. This task must be performed by licensed nursing staff.