In caring for a patient who has just had a subclavian catheter removed for infection, which division of tasks is best for the nurse to assign?

In caring for a patient who has just had a subclavian catheter removed for infection, which division of tasks is best for the nurse to assign?

• A. The LPN removes the subclavian catheter, with the RN supervising to ensure that sterile procedure is followed.
• B. After the healthcare provider removes the subclavian catheter, the LPN updates the plan of care, and the RN starts the new IV and antibiotics.
• C. After the RN removes the subclavian catheter, the UAP applies pressure to the site and covers the area with a dressing.
• D. After the RN removes the subclavian catheter, the LPN obtains vital signs, and the UAP transports the tip to the lab.

Answer: (D)

Delegation after a central venous catheter removal hinges on patient safety and matching tasks to scope of practice. The nurse who performs the removal should be the one to carry out this high-risk, sterile procedure, and then the post-procedure tasks should be handed off to team members whose roles fit their licensure and training. In this scenario, the removal is done by the RN, which ensures sterile technique is maintained and any immediate issues can be addressed right away. After the removal, obtaining vital signs and monitoring the patient’s status is within the scope of the LPN, so having the LPN handle vitals is appropriate. Transporting the catheter tip to the lab for culture or analysis is a suitable task for the UAP, who can move specimens or items to the lab under proper guidance. This division supports safety and efficiency: the RN handles the critical removal, the LPN handles routine monitoring, and the UAP handles nonclinical logistics. The other options place tasks in roles that typically cannot perform them, such as the LPN taking on the removal, or the LPN updating the plan of care, or the UAP performing wound care actions that require nursing judgment.

Delegation after a central venous catheter removal hinges on patient safety and matching tasks to scope of practice. The nurse who performs the removal should be the one to carry out this high-risk, sterile procedure, and then the post-procedure tasks should be handed off to team members whose roles fit their licensure and training.

In this scenario, the removal is done by the RN, which ensures sterile technique is maintained and any immediate issues can be addressed right away. After the removal, obtaining vital signs and monitoring the patient’s status is within the scope of the LPN, so having the LPN handle vitals is appropriate. Transporting the catheter tip to the lab for culture or analysis is a suitable task for the UAP, who can move specimens or items to the lab under proper guidance.

This division supports safety and efficiency: the RN handles the critical removal, the LPN handles routine monitoring, and the UAP handles nonclinical logistics. The other options place tasks in roles that typically cannot perform them, such as the LPN taking on the removal, or the LPN updating the plan of care, or the UAP performing wound care actions that require nursing judgment.