The nurse is assigning tasks on a medical-surgical unit. Whi… | MyMerci
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Assignment/Delegation/SupervisionMOC
Question
The nurse is assigning tasks on a medical-surgical unit. Which task should the nurse avoid delegating to unlicensed assistive personnel?
1Measure and record oral intake for a stable client.
2Assist a client to the bathroom using a gait belt.
3Report a client's complaint of new dizziness.
4Administer sliding-scale insulin before breakfast.✓ Correct answer
Explanation
Medication administration and clinical judgment about insulin dosing are licensed nursing responsibilities. Measuring intake and assisting with ambulation can be delegated for stable clients. Reporting new symptoms is appropriate, but assessment and follow-up remain the nurse's responsibility.
Clinical Judgment Use the client cues, timing, labs, and safety risks to select the response that best fits Delegation and medication safety.
Memory Tip Match the strongest cue cluster to the safest nursing judgment.
KR vs US NCLEX items reward cue-based priority thinking rather than isolated recall.
Clinical scenario
Clinical Practice Guide For Delegation and medication safety, compare the complete cue pattern with the client's current stability, ordered data, and expected nursing scope.
Caution Do not choose an action from one isolated cue when the full scenario changes priority or safety.
Key concepts
Delegation — Transferring responsibility for a task while retaining accountability for overall care.
Scope of Practice — The activities a health care worker is legally and professionally permitted to perform.
Sliding-Scale Insulin — Insulin dosing adjusted according to a blood glucose result and prescription.