Which task is most suitable for UAP on a surgical unit?

In a surgical unit, tasks that are delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) should be those that do not require clinical judgment or critical thinking. Among the options presented, feeding a client with a blood sugar of 70 mg/dL is appropriate for a UAP, provided that the nurse has assessed the situation and determined that feeding is a safe and necessary action.

UAPs can perform basic tasks such as feeding clients under supervision. In this scenario, the client’s blood sugar is low, and while feeding could be necessary, it is essential that the nurse first evaluates the client’s ability to eat and the appropriateness of the food being offered. Since the UAP is not responsible for making clinical decisions about hypoglycemia management but can assist in feeding the patient if deemed safe, this task is suitable for their scope of practice.

The other tasks listed involve specific knowledge or skill sets that exceed the UAP’s responsibilities. For instance, explaining the importance of an incentive spirometer requires a level of nursing judgment and education that a UAP would not possess. Taking vital signs for a newly transferred patient involves assessment skills and the ability to interpret those vital signs in the context of the patient's overall health, which falls under a licensed nurse's