The medical-surgical unit works with an LPN/LVN and shares a CNA with another RN.
You are assigned to six patients on the medical surgical unit working with an LPN/LVN and share a CNA with another RN. You are receiving reports for your patients and need to identify what activities you will be assigning, delegating, supervising, and prioritizing for the shift.
Instructions
Client number 1: 50-year-old male who had a heart attack and stent placed with normal vital signs
Client number 2: 46-year-old female with full-thickness burns to the leg who needs to have dressings changed
Client number 3: 33-year-old male firefighter who has fallen and broken his right femur after surgery with pain in his leg
Client number 4: 18-year-old male with wheezing and labored respirations unrelieved by an inhaler
Client number 5: 74-year-old female with new onset dementia awaiting lab results
Client number 6: 52-year-old female who has been recently diagnosed with diabetes type 2 and is getting discharged
Describe the patients you will be assigning to the LPN
Describe the care that you will be delegating to the LPN and CNA
List the interventions that you would want to supervise for the LPN and CNA
List the clients and care from the highest to lowest priority
Provides stated ideas with professional language and attribution for credible sources with correct APA citation, spelling, and grammar.
Sample Solution
Patient Assignment, Delegation, and Supervision
Patient Assignment to LPN:
Given the LPN's education and scope of practice, I would assign the following patients to them:
- Client 2: The patient with full-thickness burns requires frequent dressing changes, which can be delegated to the LPN.
- Client 5: The patient with new-onset dementia requires close monitoring, but once the lab results are in, the LPN can assist with routine care.
- Client 6: The patient being discharged can benefit from the LPN's knowledge and skills in patient education and discharge planning.
Delegation to LPN and CNA:
- LPN:
- Assist with dressing changes for Client 2.
- Monitor vital signs for Clients 1, 3, 4, and 5.
- Administer medications as ordered.
- Provide patient education for Client 6.
- Assist with discharge planning for Client 6.
- CNA:
- Assist with personal hygiene and activities of daily living for all patients.
- Obtain vital signs as needed.
- Collect specimens as ordered.
- Report any changes in patient condition to the RN.
Interventions to Supervise:
- LPN:
- Dressing changes for Client 2: Ensure proper technique to prevent infection and promote healing.
- Medication administration: Verify correct medication, dosage, route, and time.
- Patient education: Observe the LPN's ability to effectively communicate information to the patient and family.
Full Answer Section
- CNA:
- Vital sign monitoring: Check for accuracy and consistency.
- Specimen collection: Ensure proper labeling and handling.
- Reporting changes in condition: Verify that the CNA is communicating any significant changes to the RN.
Priority Care:
- Client 4: The patient with wheezing and labored respirations needs immediate attention to prevent respiratory failure.
- Client 3: The patient with a broken femur requires pain management and monitoring for complications.
- Client 1: The patient who recently had a heart attack needs close monitoring for signs of instability.
- Client 2: The patient with burns requires frequent dressing changes and pain management.
- Client 5: The patient with new-onset dementia requires close monitoring and evaluation of lab results.
- Client 6: While discharge planning is important, it can be prioritized lower than the other patients.
Note: This is a general plan and may need to be adjusted based on the specific needs of each patient and the availability of resources.