Which activity may a nurse delegate to an unlicensed health care worker?

Delegating tasks to unlicensed health care workers is guided by the principle of ensuring that the activities assigned are appropriate for their level of training and scope of practice. Assisting a client recovering from an abdominal hysterectomy to the bathroom is a task that falls within the scope of duties that can be safely delegated to an unlicensed health care worker. This activity involves basic supportive care, focusing on the client’s mobility and ensuring their safety during a non-complex task.

In contrast, assessing a client's mastectomy incision for signs of inflammation requires clinical judgement and knowledge about potential complications, which is outside the training of an unlicensed health care worker. Likewise, providing information about side effects to a chemotherapy client entails educational aspects and requires a deeper understanding of the medication’s effects and potential interactions, which is also not appropriate for unlicensed personnel. Evaluating the effectiveness of antiemetic medication involves assessment and decision-making, both of which require a licensed practitioner's expertise and authority. Thus, the only activity that can be appropriately delegated is assisting the client to the bathroom.