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Which of the following patient care tasks is coupled with the appropriate member of the nursing care team in terms of their legal scope of practice?

  • A

    An unlicensed staff member who has been “certified” by the employing agency to monitor telemetry: Monitoring cardiac telemetry

  • B

    An unlicensed assistive staff member like a nursing assistant who has been “certified” by the employing agency to insert a urinary catheter: Inserting a urinary catheter

  • C

    A licensed practical nurse: The circulating nurse in the perioperative area

  • D

    A licensed practical nurse: The first assistant in the perioperative area

Correct Response: A

An unlicensed staff member who has been “certified” by the employing agency to monitor telemetry can monitor cardiac telemetry; they cannot, however, interpret these cardiac rhythms and initiate interventions when interventions are indicated. Only the nurse can perform these roles.

Unlicensed assistive staff member like a nursing assistant cannot under any circumstances be certified” by the employing agency to insert a urinary catheter or insert a urinary catheter because this is a sterile procedure and, legally, no sterile procedures can be done by an unlicensed assistive staff member like a nursing assistant.

Lastly, the role of the circulating nurse is within the exclusive scope of practice for the registered nurse and the role of the first assistant is assumed only by a registered nurse with the advanced training and education necessary to perform competently in this capacity. Neither of these roles can be delegated to a licensed practical nurse or an unlicensed assistive staff member like a nursing assistant or a surgical technician.