Published Apr 9, 2014
jhayes2
3 Posts
I am reviewing for NCLEX and the program I'm using has a question about lpn scope of practice. In the stem you are caring for a pt with battery acid in their eyes and the RN has to delegate to an LPN so they can attend a more urgent matter. The answer is continue to irrigate until the pH is within normal limits. My understanding of this would be the LPN is evaluating the intervention by assessing pH and thus not something the RN can delegate to the LPN. Am I correct and this is a bad question or not?
Thanks
AmyRN303, BSN, RN
732 Posts
Is it multiple choice? What are your possible answers? Sometimes the key words are in the phrasing of the answers.
the other choices were 'wait here while i find another RN', 'place a sterile dressing and protective eye shield', and 'notify the workers foreman that discharge will be delayed'
In this case, continue to irrigate would be the correct answer because of the urgency of the situation. It's the only thing that wouldn't harm the patient: all of the other options delay treatment and the patient has acid in the eyes. I still have some difficulty with scope of lpn practice, but that's why I would have chosen that answer.
thanks for the input
JustBeachyNurse, LPN
13,957 Posts
Checking pH is not assessing as there are parameters, flushing until pH WNL is a treatment delegation. Just like LPNs can "assess" blood glucose levels and treat based upon sliding scale orders. Or hold cardiac or BP meds based upon HR/BP parameters such as hold if SBP