Which task is NOT appropriate to delegate to a UAP?

Which task is NOT appropriate to delegate to a UAP?

• A. Tasks requiring nursing judgment
• B. Ambulating patient
• C. Measuring vital signs
• D. Assisting with activities of daily living

Answer: (A)

UAPs are trusted to handle routine, nonclinical care tasks that don’t require evaluating a patient or making clinical decisions. The task that involves nursing judgment—deciding when to escalate care, interpreting data, or choosing an intervention—must be done by the licensed nurse. Ambulating a patient, assisting with activities of daily living, and even collecting routine vital signs fit the UAP role, provided the patient is stable and the nurse will interpret the results and respond to anything abnormal. The key idea is that data collection like vitals can be delegated, but interpretation and action based on that data are not.

UAPs are trusted to handle routine, nonclinical care tasks that don’t require evaluating a patient or making clinical decisions. The task that involves nursing judgment—deciding when to escalate care, interpreting data, or choosing an intervention—must be done by the licensed nurse. Ambulating a patient, assisting with activities of daily living, and even collecting routine vital signs fit the UAP role, provided the patient is stable and the nurse will interpret the results and respond to anything abnormal. The key idea is that data collection like vitals can be delegated, but interpretation and action based on that data are not.