Which task should the nurse delegate to an experienced unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?

Which task should the nurse delegate to an experienced unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?

• A. Initiate a central line placement
• B. Administer IV anticoagulants
• C. Assess a patient with chest pain
• D. Obtain a sterile urine specimen from an indwelling catheter with a closed drainage system

Answer: (D)

Delegation hinges on assigning routine, nonjudgmental tasks to UAP while leaving clinical assessment and invasive procedures to licensed staff. Obtaining a sterile urine specimen from an indwelling catheter with a closed drainage system fits this, because it is a straightforward, predefined process that does not require nursing judgment. With proper training and supervision, the experienced UAP can perform the steps: clean the sampling port, use sterile technique to withdraw a small amount of urine into a sterile container, and ensure the specimen is labeled and sent to the lab. The closed system helps minimize contamination and risk to the patient. Tasks that require invasive procedures, medication administration, or patient assessment—like starting a central line, giving IV anticoagulants, or evaluating chest pain—need a licensed nurse due to the need for clinical decision-making, monitoring, and specialized skills.

Delegation hinges on assigning routine, nonjudgmental tasks to UAP while leaving clinical assessment and invasive procedures to licensed staff. Obtaining a sterile urine specimen from an indwelling catheter with a closed drainage system fits this, because it is a straightforward, predefined process that does not require nursing judgment. With proper training and supervision, the experienced UAP can perform the steps: clean the sampling port, use sterile technique to withdraw a small amount of urine into a sterile container, and ensure the specimen is labeled and sent to the lab. The closed system helps minimize contamination and risk to the patient.

Tasks that require invasive procedures, medication administration, or patient assessment—like starting a central line, giving IV anticoagulants, or evaluating chest pain—need a licensed nurse due to the need for clinical decision-making, monitoring, and specialized skills.