Delegation of Care to LPNs

A charge nurse is planning assignments for the day on a busy medical-surgical unit. The nurse has noted that two patients require continuous cardiac monitoring, while another two patients need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). The charge nurse determines that the licensed practical nurse (LPN) can assist with the routine care of patients who are stable and can help with the basic monitoring under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN).

While coordinating care, the charge nurse must also ensure that the delegation of tasks adheres to established policies and protocols. In this scenario, the charge nurse needs to fill in the following statement regarding the responsibilities delegated to nursing staff:

When delegating tasks to the LPN, the charge nurse must ensure that the selected LPN has the appropriate level of experience and can provide care for patients who are considered ______________.