When to delegate vital signs?

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Feb 22, 2016

This is such an interesting thread for me as a current PCT. I'm still in my first month of PN school so we haven't learned a whole lot about delegation. Anyway, I work on a behavioral health unit and even admission vital signs are taken by us techs. I've recently gotten to float to a med surg floor and the nurses like to take retakes themselves. However, I still believe they have their techs take admission vitals as well? Is this a no no?

As many others have said, there's NCLEX world and then there's real life. I've worked in various positions as a CNA and LVN/LPN. I've worked in acute hospitals, SNFs, LTC and Psych. As a CNA, I often measured VS during situations in which I later learned that the Nurse was "supposed to" do them.

As an LVN, in my last place of employment, the techs were specifically tasked with VS measurements. Even on admission or in emergent situations, VS were assigned to techs per facility policy. In my mind, this is because psych is considered non medical, just as ALFs are considered non medical. I don't think the policy is "wrong" but it is contrary to NCLEX delegation principles.

Myself, I often chose to retake or take BP myself.

Now that I'm in RN school, I've learned the NCLEX world "rules" of delegation. Yes, this varies from the real life work world many nurses work in.

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2016

In NCLEX, the first sets of vitals would have to be done by an RN.
Our techs also do vitals when a patient is first triaged but when a patient comes back to a room we often repeat them. BPs and HRs tend to be lower than the initial triage set. I never fully trust a high triage BP.

We never had CNA/PCTs in the ED, so it was us doing vital signs during triage and again in the room. Pretty nifty that there are some hospitals that do utilize CNA/PCTs in the ED, lol.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 22, 2016

We never had CNA/PCTs in the ED, so it was us doing vital signs during triage and again in the room. Pretty nifty that there are some hospitals that do utilize CNA/PCTs in the ED, lol.

We wouldn't be able to run without them!

mikayyCNA_ · Feb 25, 2016

Very very interesting. I, of course, don't mind doing them. But that's interesting to know!

Mlee81 · Mar 11, 2018

Searched for this an it came up. The NCLEX follows more of a mechanical paradigm I find more so than critically thinking. For example.

Are vital signs for blood transfusions to be delegated to a UAP? According to my Med Surg Text 10th edition pg 469, both the baseline vitals as well as after the first 15 minutes CAN BE taken and delegated to a UAP.

From other sources on NCLEX, it appears they want the "licensed nurse" to take these vitals then all other vitals per company policy.

NCLEX doesn't give preference to who the UAP is or whether that person individually is competent enough. It's either black or white. On a select all that apply question, you either click it the button or you don't on what can be delegated.

It also states that the UAP can "obtain blood products form the blood bank as directed by the RN". Other sources on NCLEX state that it must be two licensed NURSES verifying the client's number with the blood product number from the blood bank.

Finding good information for what they want on NCLEX is a challenge at times.

Does anyone know of a RELIABLE review text that I can study while in the program to verify that I am learning the correct information for the NCLEX test?

Preferably by system/topic. I'd like to study this and prepare as I go along so I'm not attempting to cram for this test at the end.

Also I have a tough time studying information when I don't know if it is 100 percent reliable.