A nurse is planning to delegate the fasting blood glucose testing for a client who has diabetes mellitus to an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Rationale: A. Assign the AP to ask the client if she has taken her antidiabetic medication today: Asking about medication adherence is part of assessment and requires clinical judgment. Delegating this task to an AP is inappropriate because it involves interpreting client responses and making clinical decisions. B. Determine if the AP has the skills to perform the test: Before delegating any task, the nurse must verify that the AP is competent and trained to perform the procedure safely. Ensuring skill competency protects the client from harm and aligns with the nurse’s responsibility for delegation. C. Have the AP check the medical record for prior blood glucose test results: Reviewing medical records and interpreting trends involves clinical judgment and falls outside the typical scope of practice for an AP. This task should remain with the licensed nurse. D. Help the AP perform the blood glucose test: Assisting the AP is not necessary if the AP is competent and has been properly trained. The nurse’s role is to delegate appropriately, supervise as needed, and ensure safe completion, rather than performing the task alongside the AP.