Delegating VS to CNA

[RNFutureRN]

Can a nurse delegate VS to a CNA for a patient who is in DKA every 15 minutes or should the nurse do this herself?

[suzanne4, RN]

If a patient is that ill, the nurse should be there frequently; and the vital signs can be taken by the CNA. But what ever they are, it is the RNs responsibility to know what they are at all times. Much easier to just set up a dinemap and observe them yourself.

If a patient is in DKA and that ill, they are usually in the ICU type setting and not on the floor as their insulin drip needs frequent titrating and most floors do not have q 1 hour blood sugars on a patient.

Usually that frequent and they are in the unit.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

If a patient is that ill, the nurse should be there frequently; and the vital signs can be taken by the CNA. But what ever they are, it is the RNs responsibility to know what they are at all times. Much easier to just set up a dinemap and observe them yourself.

If a patient is in DKA and that ill, they are usually in the ICU type setting and not on the floor as their insulin drip needs frequent titrating and most floors do not have q 1 hour blood sugars on a patient.

Usually that frequent and they are in the unit.

Actually I work on an endocrine unit (not ICU or step down) and we get DKA's all the time. Pretty much seems like if they're conscious, we get them. We do Q1H labs, blood sugars, ABG's, vitals signs, etc all on the floor. They are on insulin drips, cardiac monitors, and getting frequent assessments. It is a lot of work for the floor.