To help keep Jessica free from infection, which responsibility is best delegated to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?

• A. Teach Jessica about the signs of infection that should be reported
• B. Observe the catheter insertion site for inflammation
• C. Obtain and record vital signs every 4 hours
• D. Clean the catheter insertion site every 72 hours

Answer: (C)

Delegation and scope of practice: UAPs excel at handling routine, objective data collection, while more complex tasks requiring clinical judgment or sterile technique stay with licensed nurses. Getting and recording vital signs every four hours fits that safe, routine data collection role. These measurements provide essential, objective information about the patient’s condition and can signal infection early when the nurse reviews them and decides on any needed action. It keeps care continuous without placing the burden of interpretation on the UAP.

Teaching Jessica about signs of infection requires nursing knowledge and assessment of her understanding, so it’s not appropriate to delegate to a UAP. Observing the catheter insertion site for inflammation is an assessment task that involves recognizing and interpreting subtle clinical signs, which is beyond the scope of routine UAP duties. Cleaning the catheter insertion site every 72 hours involves sterile technique and asepsis; that sterile care is not typically performed by UAP and should be done by a licensed nurse or under clear sterile procedures.