What actions can be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel for a client with thyrotoxicosis?

Delegating actions to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) involves ensuring that the tasks are appropriate based on their training, the client’s condition, and safety considerations. For a client with thyrotoxicosis, certain measures can significantly support their comfort and well-being.

Assisting the client to bathe and change bed linens is a task that falls well within the scope of practice for UAP. This action is fundamental to personal hygiene and can help the client feel more comfortable and maintain dignity, especially if the client is experiencing fatigue or other symptoms associated with thyrotoxicosis. Additionally, these tasks do not require clinical judgment or the need for specialized nursing knowledge, making them suitable for delegation.

In contrast, other options involve activities that require more specialized knowledge or critical decision-making skills. For instance, administering artificial tears involves a medical judgment based on the condition of the client’s eyes that a UAP may not be trained to assess accurately. Teaching the client about their condition and expected symptoms is also a complex task that necessitates an understanding of medical education and patient care, which is typically the responsibility of licensed nursing personnel. Providing cool cloths is a supportive action but may also require an assessment of the client’s condition and symptom management, elements