Which action involving client needs would the nurse delegate to an unlicensed health care worker?

Delegating the task of providing ice chips to a primigravida in early labor aligns with the scope of practice for an unlicensed health care worker. This action involves basic patient support and comfort measures, which do not require professional nursing judgment or assessment skills. Ensuring a client has access to ice chips is a routine duty that helps maintain hydration and comfort, particularly for clients in labor who may have restrictions on food intake.

On the other hand, the other options involve tasks that require a higher level of assessment, critical thinking, and clinical judgment. For instance, assessing a newly admitted client's contraction pattern necessitates skilled evaluation of both the client's physical status and the fetal condition, which a nurse is trained to do. Similarly, discussing pain management options with a laboring client engages complex decision-making that should come from a qualified nurse who can assess the client’s individual needs and provide safe, effective recommendations. Obtaining a sterile urine specimen for a suspected urinary tract infection also requires knowledge of sterile techniques and infection control that is beyond the typical responsibilities of unlicensed personnel.