A nurse is delegating care for a group of four clients. Which of the following tasks should the nurse delegate to an assistive personnel (AP)?

Choice A rationale Obtaining a daily weight is a standardized, non-invasive task that falls within the scope of practice for assistive personnel. In heart failure management, monitoring weight is crucial for assessing fluid volume status, where a gain of 2 to 3 pounds in a day or 5 pounds in a week is significant. The nurse remains responsible for interpreting the data and assessing for edema or respiratory distress, but the physical act of weighing is a delegated task. Choice B rationale Wound irrigation and dressing changes for a pressure injury require sterile or clean technique, assessment of tissue integrity, and clinical judgment regarding healing progress. These actions are within the professional scope of a licensed nurse and cannot be delegated to assistive personnel. The complexity of evaluating the wound bed for slough, eschar, or granulation tissue requires the advanced training of a registered nurse to ensure appropriate interventions and prevents potential complications or infection. Choice C rationale The administration of medications, including oral PRN pain medications, is a licensed nursing responsibility. It involves assessing the patient's pain level, verifying the five rights of medication administration, and monitoring for side effects or therapeutic outcomes. Assistive personnel are not licensed to handle or administer medications in most acute care settings. The nurse must evaluate the effectiveness of the medication and ensure that the dosage is safe based on the patient's current clinical status. Choice D rationale Teaching a client how to use an incentive spirometer is a core component of patient education and respiratory assessment. Education requires the nurse to evaluate the client's understanding, demonstrate the correct technique, and assess the client's ability to perform the task effectively to prevent atelectasis. Assistive personnel can encourage a client to use the device once the nurse has performed the initial teaching, but the actual instruction and validation of learning must be performed by the nurse.