The nurse is caring for a 70-year-old patient who was just admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation center. The patient had required total parenteral nutrition for several days, but recently resumed and is tolerating a regular diet

Question

She has another 4 days left in a course of intravenous antibiotics to complete treatment of a positive central line culture. Which nursing action, required in the care of this patient, is considered a dependent role function? 1. Requesting that the health care provider order a consult because the patient states that her dentures no longer fit properly and she has trouble chewing
2. Asking the nursing assistant to demonstrate to the patient how to operate the call system
3. Interviewing the patient to assess whether she needs assistance with getting out of bed
4. Administering the antibiotics prescribed by the health care provider

Answer 1

4
Rationale 1: Assessing that the patient has a need that requires further assessment by other team members and communicating that need to the appropriate team member is an example of an interdependent activity.
Rationale 2: This is an independent activity that nurses may perform or delegate, based on their and the delegate's education and skills.
Rationale 3: Assessment is an independent activity that nurses may perform, based on their education and skills.
Rationale 4: Dependent activities are those prescribed by the health care provider and carried out by the nurse.