In caring for a stable post-operative patient, which delegation scenario demonstrates appropriate practice?

• A. The RN delegates routine tasks such as wound dressing changes and vital signs monitoring to an LPN, while the RN retains ongoing assessment and plan of care.
• B. The RN delegates all patient assessments to the LPN and leaves the unit unattended.
• C. The RN performs all tasks personally, without delegating.
• D. The LPN is allowed to modify the plan of care without RN approval.

Answer: (A)

Delegation in nursing hinges on matching tasks to scope of practice while keeping the patient safe and the plan of care under a supervising clinician. For a stable post-operative patient, routine activities like changing wounds and monitoring vital signs are appropriate for an LPN to perform, because these tasks require technical skill and consistent observation, but they don’t require the RN’s full diagnostic judgment each time. The RN remains responsible for ongoing assessment, interpretation of data, and adjusting the plan of care as needed. This arrangement supports safe, efficient care and ensures accountability remains with the RN.

Leaving the unit unattended after delegating all assessments isn’t appropriate because it removes essential supervision and the opportunity to catch subtle changes early. Having the RN do everything personally ignores the team-based nature of care. Allowing an LPN to modify the plan of care without RN approval oversteps scope and could compromise patient safety.