High School

When caring for a patient who is using Buck's traction after a hip fracture, which action can the nurse delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?

A. Monitor the skin under the traction boot for redness.
B. Ensure that the weight for the traction is off the floor.
C. Check for intact sensation and movement in the affected leg.
D. Offer reassurance that hip and leg pain are normal after hip fracture.

Answer :

Final answer:

The nurse can delegate the action of monitoring the skin under the traction boot for the redness to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)

Explanation:

When caring for a patient who is using Buck's traction after a hip fracture, the nurse can delegate the action of monitoring the skin under the traction boot for redness to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). This is because UAPs can be trained to recognize signs of skin breakdown or pressure injuries, and they can report any changes to the nurse. UAPs are qualified to handle non-clinical tasks such as this. However, monitoring skin for redness, checking for sensation and movement, and providing reassurance about pain levels involve assessment, patient education, or clinical judgment, which are responsibilities of licensed nursing staff.

However, actions such as ensuring the weight for the traction is off the floor, checking for intact sensation and movement in the affected leg, and offering reassurance that hip and leg pain are normal after a hip fracture, require a higher level of knowledge and expertise, and should be performed by a qualified nurse.

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