Free LPN Delegation and Supervision for UAP Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An LPN is planning care for a group of patients. Which task can be safely delegated to an Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP)?
- Administering a scheduled oral pain medication
- Assisting a stable, postoperative patient with bathing (Correct answer)
- Performing a wound dressing change
- Developing a plan of care for a new admission
Correct answer: Assisting a stable, postoperative patient with bathing
Delegation to a UAP is appropriate for tasks that are routine, non-invasive, and do not require nursing judgment or assessment. Assisting a stable patient with activities of daily living, such as bathing, falls within the UAP's scope of practice.
Question 2: An LPN delegates the task of obtaining vital signs to a UAP for a patient who is post-operative. After the UAP reports the vital signs, what is the LPN's primary responsibility?
- Documenting the vital signs in the chart
- Telling the UAP to report any abnormal findings next time
- Assuming the vital signs are accurate and stable
- Interpreting the vital signs and their significance (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Interpreting the vital signs and their significance
While the UAP can collect data, the licensed nurse (LPN or RN) is responsible for interpreting that data and determining the appropriate action. The LPN must analyze the vital signs in the context of the patient's overall condition.
Question 3: Which patient care activity should the LPN *not* delegate to a UAP?
- Administering a bolus enteral feeding via a gastrostomy tube (Correct answer)
- Recording a patient's intake and output
- Assisting a patient with ambulation in the hallway
- Obtaining a routine urine specimen from a Foley catheter bag
Correct answer: Administering a bolus enteral feeding via a gastrostomy tube
Tasks that are sterile, invasive, or require nursing judgment, such as evaluating a patient's response to treatment or performing sterile procedures, cannot be delegated to a UAP. Administering tube feeding requires assessment of tube placement and patient tolerance.
Question 4: A UAP reports that a stable patient's blood pressure is 170/98 mmHg. What is the LPN's most appropriate initial action?
- Immediately notify the healthcare provider
- Instruct the UAP to recheck the blood pressure in 30 minutes
- Personally reassess the patient and their blood pressure (Correct answer)
- Document the finding as reported by the UAP
Correct answer: Personally reassess the patient and their blood pressure
When a UAP reports an abnormal finding, the nurse's first step is to validate the information and perform their own assessment. This ensures accuracy and allows the nurse to directly evaluate the patient's clinical status before taking further action, such as notifying the RN or provider.
Question 5: Which statement best describes the 'Right Task' according to the Five Rights of Delegation?
- The UAP has demonstrated competency for the task.
- The patient's condition is stable.
- The task is repetitive, non-invasive, and has a predictable outcome. (Correct answer)
- The LPN provides clear instructions for the task.
Correct answer: The task is repetitive, non-invasive, and has a predictable outcome.
The 'Right Task' refers to delegating activities that are repetitive, require little supervision, are relatively noninvasive, have predictable results, and have minimal potential for risk. This ensures that the delegated task is appropriate for a UAP's skill level and scope of practice.
Question 6: An LPN is delegating care for a patient with type 2 diabetes. Which task is appropriate to delegate to the UAP?
- Teaching the patient about signs of hypoglycemia
- Administering sliding scale insulin
- Assessing the patient's feet for skin breakdown
- Performing a routine fingerstick blood glucose check (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Performing a routine fingerstick blood glucose check
Measuring and recording blood glucose levels using a fingerstick is a routine task that can be delegated to a UAP once they have been properly trained. However, the LPN remains responsible for interpreting the result and taking appropriate action, such as administering insulin.
Question 7: What is the most critical factor for an LPN to consider before delegating any task to a UAP?
- The time of day and staffing levels
- The UAP's willingness to perform the task
- The stability of the patient's condition (Correct answer)
- Whether the task is interesting for the UAP
Correct answer: The stability of the patient's condition
The patient's stability is the most important consideration. Even routine tasks can become inappropriate to delegate if the patient is unstable, as their condition may change rapidly, requiring the skill and judgment of a licensed nurse.
Free LPN Delegation and Supervision for UAP Questions and Answers
An LPN is planning care for a group of patients.
Which task can be safely delegated to an Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP)?