Prioritizing Tasks for a UAP: Ethical and Clinical Considerations

QUESTION

Question 6 of 121.0 Points At change of shift the charge nurse assigns the UAPfour clients. The RN should direct the UAP to take vital signs on which client first. • A. The 89- year-old with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who is resting quietly on 2l of oxygen and who needs assistance with a bath. • B. The client who returned from endoscopy about 30 minutes ago and is requesting something to eat. • C. The newly admitted client with rheumatoid arthritis who needs to have hand splints reapplied to both hands. • D. The newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who has a fingerstick blood glucose level of 5.0 mmol/L (90mg/dl) and who needs help with breakfast.

ANSWER

Prioritizing Tasks for a UAP: Ethical and Clinical Considerations

Introduction

In the healthcare setting, efficient task prioritization is crucial for providing safe and effective patient care. Charge nurses often face the challenge of assigning tasks to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) while considering both clinical needs and ethical considerations. In this scenario, we will explore the appropriate sequence for a UAP to take vital signs on four different clients, considering the clients’ conditions and needs.

Task Prioritization

A. The 89-year-old with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who is resting quietly on 2 liters of oxygen and needs assistance with a bath.
B. The client who returned from endoscopy about 30 minutes ago and is requesting something to eat.
C. The newly admitted client with rheumatoid arthritis who needs to have hand splints reapplied to both hands.
D. The newly diagnosed client with type 2 diabetes who has a fingerstick blood glucose level of 5.0 mmol/L (90 mg/dl) and needs help with breakfast.

To prioritize these tasks effectively, the RN should consider both clinical urgency and ethical principles:

1. Client A (COPD)

The 89-year-old with COPD and oxygen dependence requires immediate attention due to their chronic respiratory condition. Ensuring that this client’s vital signs are within an acceptable range is essential to monitor their oxygen saturation and overall respiratory status. Therefore, directing the UAP to take vital signs on this client first is ethically and clinically appropriate.

2. Client D (Diabetes)

The client newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has a relatively stable fingerstick blood glucose level of 5.0 mmol/L (90 mg/dl). While this client needs assistance with breakfast, the urgency is not as high as ensuring the client with COPD maintains adequate oxygenation. The UAP can assist this client after addressing Client A’s needs.

3. Client C (Rheumatoid Arthritis)

The newly admitted client with rheumatoid arthritis requires the reapplication of hand splints. Although this task is important, it is not immediately urgent compared to addressing respiratory issues or blood glucose monitoring. The UAP can attend to this client after dealing with Clients A and D.

4. Client B (Endoscopy)

The client who recently returned from endoscopy and is requesting something to eat is likely stable post-procedure. While their request is valid, it is not as urgent as the vital sign assessments for Clients A and D. The UAP can attend to this client last.

Conclusion

Effective task prioritization in healthcare involves considering both clinical urgency and ethical principles. In this scenario, taking vital signs for the client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should be the highest priority due to respiratory concerns. Following that, addressing the needs of the client with diabetes, the client with rheumatoid arthritis, and finally, the post-endoscopy client can help ensure efficient and ethical care delivery while respecting the urgency of each situation.

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