What tasks can an RN delegate to an LPN for a client post-gastric bypass concerning pain management?

An RN can delegate the task of administering oral pain medications to an LPN as part of pain management for a client post-gastric bypass. This delegation is appropriate because administering oral medications falls within the scope of practice for an LPN. LPNs are trained to give medications and are capable of following established protocols for medication administration, including ensuring that the client understands how to take the medication and monitoring for any side effects after administration.

In the context of post-operative care, managing pain effectively is crucial, and allowing an LPN to handle medication administration helps in providing timely relief to the client. This delegation also allows the RN to focus on more complex assessments and interventions that require RN-level decision-making and critical thinking.

Pain assessment, which includes assessing the characteristics of the client's pain and monitoring pain levels using a numeric scale, requires more comprehensive clinical judgment and assessment skills. These tasks are integral to understanding the effectiveness of pain management strategies and would be best handled by an RN. Additionally, while measuring vital signs is an important task, it typically precedes and follows pain medication administration as part of a comprehensive assessment, underscoring the need for the RN's oversight in evaluating the overall status of the client.