A patient has had left-sided lumpectomy (breast-conservation surgery) and an axillary lymph node dissection. Which nursing intervention is appropriate to delegate to a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)?
a. Teaching the patient how to avoid injury to the left arm
b. Assessing the patient's range of motion for the left arm
c. Evaluating the patient's understanding of instructions about drain care
d. Administering an analgesic 30 minutes before scheduled arm exercises
ANS: D
LPN/LVN education and scope of practice include administration and evaluation of the effects of analgesics. Assessment, teaching, and evaluation of a patient's understanding of instructions are more complex tasks that are more appropriate to RN level education and scope of practice.
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