Which client could the charge nurse assign to an LPN/VN?

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Multiple Choice

Which client could the charge nurse assign to an LPN/VN?

Explanation:
Delegation to an LPN/VN hinges on patient stability and what tasks are within their scope of practice. LPNs provide routine, ongoing care and can monitor vitals, intake and output, and follow physician or protocol-directed orders under supervision, but they don’t initiate new assessments or handle unstable, high-risk situations. The client most suitable for an LPN is the one who is in a stable, protocol-managed phase of care after initial stabilization. In this scenario, that means the child with diabetic ketoacidosis can receive routine monitoring and care under the RN’s supervision—tracking vital signs, fluid status, electrolyte balance, and reporting any changes, while the RN handles more complex decisions or adjustments to therapy. The other cases involve needs that typically require RN-level assessment or intervention: starting IV therapy, initiating or adjusting treatment plans, or managing rapid changes in condition. Those situations require closer, higher-level oversight than an LPN can provide.

Delegation to an LPN/VN hinges on patient stability and what tasks are within their scope of practice. LPNs provide routine, ongoing care and can monitor vitals, intake and output, and follow physician or protocol-directed orders under supervision, but they don’t initiate new assessments or handle unstable, high-risk situations.

The client most suitable for an LPN is the one who is in a stable, protocol-managed phase of care after initial stabilization. In this scenario, that means the child with diabetic ketoacidosis can receive routine monitoring and care under the RN’s supervision—tracking vital signs, fluid status, electrolyte balance, and reporting any changes, while the RN handles more complex decisions or adjustments to therapy.

The other cases involve needs that typically require RN-level assessment or intervention: starting IV therapy, initiating or adjusting treatment plans, or managing rapid changes in condition. Those situations require closer, higher-level oversight than an LPN can provide.

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