LPN Delegation and Supervision for UAP 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An LPN working in a home health setting wants to delegate bathing to a home health aide. Which factor is most critical to assess first?
- Whether the patient prefers morning or evening baths
- Whether the patient's condition is stable enough for UAP-assisted bathing (Correct answer)
- Whether the aide has worked with similar patients before
- Whether the family approves of the aide performing the task
Correct answer: Whether the patient's condition is stable enough for UAP-assisted bathing
Patient stability determines whether bathing can be safely delegated to a UAP in the home setting.
Question 2: A UAP is assigned to a patient with a new diagnosis. Which action by the LPN is most appropriate?
- Give the UAP a printed copy of the diagnosis for reference
- Provide specific instructions about what to observe and report for that patient (Correct answer)
- Trust the UAP to know what to monitor based on experience
- Allow the UAP to review the medical record independently
Correct answer: Provide specific instructions about what to observe and report for that patient
The LPN must individualize instructions for each patient, especially those with new or changing conditions.
Question 3: Which scenario represents unsafe delegation by an LPN?
- Asking the UAP to take routine vital signs on a stable patient
- Asking the UAP to administer a PRN pain medication (Correct answer)
- Asking the UAP to assist a patient to the bathroom
- Asking the UAP to weigh a patient before breakfast
Correct answer: Asking the UAP to administer a PRN pain medication
Medication administration is outside the UAP's scope of practice and is never a delegable task.
Question 4: The LPN notices the UAP did not report a patient's elevated temperature from two hours ago. What is the priority action?
- Counsel the UAP about reporting requirements
- Immediately assess the patient's current status (Correct answer)
- File a complaint with the nurse manager
- Document the UAP's failure to report in the chart
Correct answer: Immediately assess the patient's current status
The LPN's first priority is the patient's current clinical status, not the UAP's behavior.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of the LPN providing feedback to a UAP after a delegated task?
- To fulfill documentation requirements for the shift
- To promote safe, competent practice and improve future performance (Correct answer)
- To establish a record for annual performance evaluations
- To satisfy Joint Commission standards for staff education
Correct answer: To promote safe, competent practice and improve future performance
Constructive feedback after task completion supports ongoing competency and patient safety.
Question 6: A UAP asks the LPN to delegate suctioning a patient with a new tracheostomy. The LPN should:
- Delegate the task if the UAP has done it before on other patients
- Decline to delegate because suctioning a new trach requires clinical assessment (Correct answer)
- Teach the UAP and supervise the first time, then delegate independently
- Ask the charge RN to make the delegation decision
Correct answer: Decline to delegate because suctioning a new trach requires clinical assessment
Suctioning a new tracheostomy involves risk and clinical judgment beyond the UAP's scope of practice.
Question 7: Which element must be present for an LPN to legally delegate a task to a UAP?
- The patient's verbal agreement to UAP care
- State nurse practice act authorization for that task to be delegated (Correct answer)
- A physician's written order approving the delegation
- A minimum of five years of UAP experience
Correct answer: State nurse practice act authorization for that task to be delegated
Delegation must comply with the state nurse practice act, which defines what LPNs can delegate and to whom.
LPN Delegation and Supervision for UAP 4
An LPN working in a home health setting wants to delegate bathing to a home health aide.
Which factor is most critical to assess first?