A nurse is making assignments for staff on an inpatient unit. Which of the following tasks can a nurse legally delegate to assistive personnel?

Rationale: A. Obtaining the initial assessment of assigned clients: The initial assessment requires nursing judgment and clinical decision-making, which are within the scope of practice of a registered nurse only. It involves data interpretation and establishing a baseline for care, tasks that cannot be delegated to assistive personnel. B. Educating a client and family members on home care: Client and family teaching requires specialized nursing knowledge to ensure understanding and accuracy. This task involves evaluating learning needs and reinforcing critical information, responsibilities that cannot be legally delegated to assistive personnel. C. Changing a nonsterile dressing: Assistive personnel can safely perform nonsterile procedures such as changing a clean dressing under the supervision of a nurse. This task involves routine care that does not require nursing judgment, making it appropriate for delegation. D. Interpreting a client's diagnostic laboratory results: Interpretation of laboratory data involves analysis, clinical reasoning, and the ability to make informed nursing decisions. These actions fall strictly within the nurse’s professional scope of practice and cannot be delegated to assistive personnel.