Which statement describes a task that can be delegated to a patient care tech for an SCI patient?

Which statement describes a task that can be delegated to a patient care tech for an SCI patient?

• A. Obtain a blood pressure.
• B. Assess the IV site.
• C. Do initial teaching for incentive spirometer.
• D. Turn the patient independently.

Answer: (A)

Delegation works best for routine, non-judgmental tasks that don’t require a clinician’s assessment or teaching. Measuring blood pressure fits that spot: it’s a standard vital sign, done with basic technique, and the result is reported to the nurse who uses it to guide care. A patient care tech is trained to obtain vitals like BP, pulse, and respirations, as long as they know to escalate if something is out of range or concerning. The other tasks require nursing judgment or education responsibilities. Assessing an IV site involves checking for infiltration, phlebitis, or infection—things that need clinical evaluation. Providing initial teaching for an incentive spirometer is an instructional task that typically falls to a licensed clinician or therapist. Turning the patient independently implies the patient can move without assistance, which isn’t appropriate for an SCI patient and isn’t a task the tech would perform alone; safety and proper technique usually require supervision or assistance.

Delegation works best for routine, non-judgmental tasks that don’t require a clinician’s assessment or teaching. Measuring blood pressure fits that spot: it’s a standard vital sign, done with basic technique, and the result is reported to the nurse who uses it to guide care. A patient care tech is trained to obtain vitals like BP, pulse, and respirations, as long as they know to escalate if something is out of range or concerning.

The other tasks require nursing judgment or education responsibilities. Assessing an IV site involves checking for infiltration, phlebitis, or infection—things that need clinical evaluation. Providing initial teaching for an incentive spirometer is an instructional task that typically falls to a licensed clinician or therapist. Turning the patient independently implies the patient can move without assistance, which isn’t appropriate for an SCI patient and isn’t a task the tech would perform alone; safety and proper technique usually require supervision or assistance.