A nurse is planning care for a group of clients. When planning the assignment for an assistive personnel (AP), which of the following activities should the nurse consider unsafe for the AP to perform?

Choice A rationale Administering a cleansing enema is within the scope of practice for assistive personnel because it is a routine, non-invasive procedure that does not require clinical judgment or assessment. The nurse must first ensure the client is stable and that there are no contraindications such as recent rectal surgery. The AP can safely perform the task while reporting any client discomfort or unexpected results to the supervising nurse immediately. Choice B rationale Medication administration is a complex task that requires pharmacological knowledge and is strictly outside the scope of practice for assistive personnel. Crushing medications and mixing them with food involves assessing the appropriateness of the route and ensuring the specific medication can be crushed. Since the AP lacks the legal authority and training to verify the five rights of medication administration, this action poses a significant safety risk to the client. Choice C rationale Collecting a urine specimen is a basic technical skill that is frequently delegated to assistive personnel during the admission process. This task does not require sterile technique unless a catheter is involved, making it a safe assignment for an AP. The AP must follow standard precautions and label the specimen correctly, but the primary responsibility for interpreting the urinalysis results remains with the licensed nursing staff or the provider. Choice D rationale Taking vital signs is a fundamental task for assistive personnel that involves using automated or manual equipment to gather data. While a client with a history of angina requires close monitoring, the act of measuring blood pressure, heart rate, and respirations is a repetitive task with a predictable outcome. The AP must report any values outside of the normal adult range, such as a blood pressure above 120/80 mmHg or tachycardia.