The nurse is caring for a 70-year-old client who was just admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation center. The client 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. When performing nursing activities typical of dependent role functions, the nurse would: 1. Administer the antibiotics prescribed by the health care provider.
2. Request that the health care provider order a consult with social work and speech and language therapy because the client states that her dentures no longer fit properly and she cannot chew properly.
3. Interview the client to assess whether she needs assistance with getting out of bed.
4. Ask the nursing assistant to demonstrate to the client how to operate the call system.

Answer 1

Administer the antibiotics prescribed by the health care provider.

Rationale: The nurse is administering medication prescribed by the health care provider, which is a dependent activity. Assessing that the client has a need that requires further assessment by other health care members and communicating to the team member who is in the position to assure that the appropriate disciplines are involved in the client's care is an example of an interdependent activity. Assessing that the client needs assistance with getting out of bed is an independent activity that nurses may perform, based on their education and skills. Asking the nursing assistant to demonstrate to the client how to operate the call system is an independent activity that nurses may perform, or delegate, based on their and the delegate's education and skills.