A nurse is planning care for clients. Which of the following tasks can the nurse delegate to an assistive personnel (AP)?

Choice C rationale Assistive personnel are trained to perform routine, non-invasive tasks on stable clients. Obtaining blood pressure is a standard data collection task that does not require clinical judgment or nursing analysis. A client scheduled for discharge later in the day is considered stable, making this task appropriate for delegation. The nurse remains responsible for reviewing the value and ensuring it falls within the normal range of 90 to 120 mmHg systolic and 60 to 80 mmHg diastolic. Choice A rationale Tracheostomy care involves the management of a surgical airway and requires sterile or aseptic technique, assessment of stoma integrity, and monitoring of respiratory status. These actions require the specialized knowledge and clinical judgment of a licensed nurse. Assistive personnel do not have the training to recognize complications such as subcutaneous emphysema or tracheal stenosis. Therefore, this task cannot be delegated because it is an invasive procedure that requires frequent nursing assessment and complex decision-making. Choice B rationale Patient teaching is a core responsibility of the registered nurse and cannot be delegated to unlicensed staff. Educating a client on the use of an incentive spirometer involves explaining the physiological goals of preventing atelectasis and ensuring the client demonstrates the correct technique. Assistive personnel can encourage the client to use the device after the initial teaching has occurred, but the primary instruction and evaluation of the client's understanding must be performed by the nurse. Choice D rationale Assessment is the first step of the nursing process and requires the professional expertise of a licensed nurse. A client returning from surgery is considered unstable and requires frequent monitoring of vital signs, surgical sites, and level of consciousness to detect early signs of hemorrhage or anesthesia complications. This level of clinical evaluation involves interpreting complex data and identifying deviations from baseline, which is a scope of practice restricted to the nurse and never delegated.