LPN Delegation and Supervision for UAP 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A UAP reports that a patient's blood pressure is 88/50 mmHg. What is the LPN's priority action?
- Instruct the UAP to recheck in 30 minutes
- Reassess the patient immediately and notify the RN (Correct answer)
- Document the finding and continue monitoring
- Ask the UAP to encourage the patient to drink fluids
Correct answer: Reassess the patient immediately and notify the RN
A BP of 88/50 is critically low; the LPN must reassess and escalate to the RN immediately.
Question 2: Which task is within the UAP's scope when caring for a post-operative patient?
- Assessing the surgical wound for signs of infection
- Ambulating the patient per the established care plan (Correct answer)
- Removing staples from the incision site
- Adjusting the patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump
Correct answer: Ambulating the patient per the established care plan
Ambulating a stable post-op patient per care plan is a routine task UAPs can safely perform.
Question 3: Before delegating a task to a UAP, the LPN must first ensure which of the following?
- The UAP has performed the task at least once before
- The task is within the UAP's documented competency and training (Correct answer)
- The RN has given verbal permission for every task
- The patient has signed a consent form for UAP assistance
Correct answer: The task is within the UAP's documented competency and training
The LPN must verify the UAP has demonstrated competency for any delegated task.
Question 4: A UAP tells the LPN that a patient refuses to eat breakfast. What should the LPN do next?
- Instruct the UAP to document the refusal and move on
- Assess the patient to determine the reason for refusal (Correct answer)
- Ask the UAP to try again in one hour
- Immediately notify the physician of the refusal
Correct answer: Assess the patient to determine the reason for refusal
The LPN must assess the patient directly, as refusal to eat may indicate a clinical problem requiring intervention.
Question 5: Which statement best describes the LPN's accountability when delegating to a UAP?
- The UAP assumes full responsibility once the task is delegated
- The LPN retains accountability for the appropriateness of the delegation (Correct answer)
- Responsibility transfers entirely to the RN who oversees both
- Neither the LPN nor UAP is accountable if the task is routine
Correct answer: The LPN retains accountability for the appropriateness of the delegation
The LPN retains accountability for deciding what to delegate and to whom, even though the UAP performs the task.
Question 6: A UAP is asked to perform oral care on an unconscious patient. What must the LPN verify first?
- That the patient's family has consented to UAP care
- That the UAP is trained in aspiration precautions for unconscious patients (Correct answer)
- That the RN has assessed the patient within the last hour
- That the oral care is documented in the care plan
Correct answer: That the UAP is trained in aspiration precautions for unconscious patients
Unconscious patients have high aspiration risk, so the LPN must confirm the UAP knows the required precautions.
Question 7: During supervision, the LPN observes a UAP performing a task incorrectly. What is the appropriate immediate action?
- File an incident report and address the issue at shift end
- Intervene immediately to prevent patient harm and correct the technique (Correct answer)
- Allow the UAP to finish and then provide feedback privately
- Report the UAP to the charge nurse without intervening
Correct answer: Intervene immediately to prevent patient harm and correct the technique
Patient safety requires the LPN to intervene immediately when observing incorrect technique.
LPN Delegation and Supervision for UAP 2
A UAP reports that a patient's blood pressure is 88/50 mmHg.
What is the LPN's priority action?