Question

4. Consider this scenario and answer the questions that follow: Today, you are the charge nurse, and part of your responsibility is to make patient assignments. A total of 18 patients are present on the unit, as well as 2 RNs, 1 LPN, and 3 nursing assistants. You make the following assignments: 1 charge nurse will give the IV medications for the LPN and will help as needed; 2 RNs will each take 6 patients; 1 LPN will take 6 patients; and 3 nursing assistants will each take 6 patients.

1. Should the nursing assistants be assigned to patients, or should they be assigned to a nurse? Why?

b.  When assigning patients to the RNs, should you consider the patient’s physiologic status and complexity of care? Give examples of patients with more unstable physiologic status or complex care requirements.

c.   When making assignments, how should you consider infection control issues?  Would you assign one nurse an infectious patient and an immunosuppressed patient?

d.   When assigning patients to the LPN, what would the RN consider regarding the level of supervision required by the LPN? Explain.

Answer 1

1. Nursing assistants provide should be assigned for patient to provide basic care and help with activities of daily living. Also listen to and record patients' health concerns and report that information to nurses. Their function to measure patients' vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature. Assistants serve meals and help patients eat.

2. Yes it is important to consider patient’s physiologic status and complexity of care during assigning of patient. They needed special care during disease.
Example- mental disorder like anxiety and mania are state of physiologic unstable. Due to anxiety or agitation respiration and other vitals fluctuate rapidly so patient required special care regularly. so RN is informed previously about the situation.

3. During assignment strictly order to follow guidelines to control infection issues-

•Wash Your Hands. It is first step to control spreading of infection.
•Identify Contagions ASAP.
•Provide Infection Control Education.
•Use Gloves.
•Provide Isolation
•Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.
•Disinfect and Keep Surfaces Clean.
•Prevent Patients From Walking Barefoot.

No, infectious patient and immunosuppressive patient are assigned to different nurse because chance of spread of infection and get infected.
These patients should be assigned isolately.

4. LPNs usually provide more basic nursing care and are responsible for the comfort of the patient.
Care provided by the LPN is overseen in some way by a registered nurse with more comprehensive educational requirements and therefore different scopes of practice.
RN may also delegate task to LPN under her/his supervision.