Delegation Help

[RNFutureRN]

Hi Guys,

The big day is July 17th for me, and before then I need to clear something up. When you have a question about delgation and the question states that there are 2 CNAs, 1 LPN, and 1 RN and you must choose which patient to assign to the LPN; there are 4 answers to choose from and they all look like they could go to the LPN so you choose your best answer. Are you assuming that the ones that werent chosen are taken care of by the nursing assistants and the 1 RN available? Sorry if this question is a little confusing, bear with me, I've been studying for 30 days straight 4-6 hours a day and feel like I'm going coocoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :chuckle:no:

[Beary-nice]

I would think it would mean which one could be assigned to the LPN and mean the rest could be assigned to the other staff.

[Jvm413]

In this case I think it would have to the be the pt that can be cared for by the lpn/rn not the cnas. Like ones requiring some further assessment or skills. If there's more that one right away to you I would look between those and figure out who would go better with the lpn as oppposed to the rn (does the pt require advanced skill or does the situation deem someone who can handle a possible acute emergency) etc. Hope this helps some

[RNFutureRN]

Thanks

[nursegreen]

When you look at that scenerio remember that an LPN can take a stable patient with a non-complicated outcome. Example, you can assign a patient who needs a dressing change, give medications, insert foley. If you have an answer choice that states assist with ambulation, help feed, set up food, give a bath, that can be delegated to the cna. RN's can not delegate their assessments, teaching, and evaluations of patient's treatment and goals. Good luck with your test!!!!

[december2905]

how about SATA? if they asked the task for the LPN, should we also include the ones for the CNA like vital signs, assisting with ambulation? i'm really confuse...

[NooNieNursie]

I used to hate delegation questions, but I can delegate the crap out of a patient now thanks to kaplan!

You always assign based on maximum scope of practice. Even though an LPN can technically take a CNA patient, you never give the LPN the CNA patient UNLESS she/he cannot care for the other 3 patients in the question because they require an RN scope of practice.

The rules are simple:

1) LPNs and CNAs get patients where the outcomes are stable and predictible.

2) The difference between the LPN and the CNA is that the LPN is trained to do higher level nursing tasks like change dressings, give medicine, and things of that nature. CNA has NO license, they have no ability to perform any nursing care; they just help with activities of daily living like feeding, bathing, toileting, ambulation, dressing, and other comfort needs.

3) The RN must always take patients that require ASSESSMENT (teaching, discharge, admissions, and unstable patients).

Typical question:

1 rn, 1 lpn, 2 cnas

a: pt post MI who needs help bathing

b: diabetic pt with a stasis ulcer of the feet that requires a dressing change

c: new admit patient with asthma, inspiratory wheezing and an o2 sat of 88%

d: pt post op laproscopic cholecystectomy who requires ambulation

The RN needs to take the asthma pt because he is unstable and requires assessment.

The LPN takes the diabetic because the CNA can NOT do the dressing change. It is a stasis ulcer so the patient is more or less stable.

The CNAs take the MI and the post op because they are stable and require no higher level nursing care.

Easy once you know the rules!