After receiving a change of shift report for clients on a medical surgical unit, which activity should the nurse delegate to the practical nurse (PN)?

A. Initiating teaching for client care after discharge is not within the scope of practice for a practical nurse (PN). Teaching, particularly initial or complex teaching, is a responsibility of the registered nurse (RN) because it requires assessment, planning, and evaluation of the client’s understanding. B. Evaluating and updating plans of care is a responsibility of the RN. This activity requires critical thinking and clinical judgment to assess client progress and make adjustments to care plans, which are outside the PN’s scope of practice. C. Performing the initial sterile wound care for surgical clients should be done by the RN. The initial wound care requires assessment of the wound’s condition, which is a task that involves critical thinking and is beyond the PN’s scope. D. Validating prescribed intravenous flow rates is an appropriate task for the PN. This task is within their scope of practice as it involves verifying that the IV is running as prescribed but does not require the higher-level assessment and critical thinking skills reserved for the RN.