What nursing task is appropriate to delegate to a UAP caring for a stable client on bedrest?

Providing perineal care to a stable client is an appropriate task to delegate to a Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP). This type of care falls within the scope of tasks that UAPs are trained to perform, especially when the client is stable and requires assistance with activities of daily living. Such tasks are routine and do not require the critical thinking or assessment skills that licensed nurses must apply.

In a stable condition, the client is typically able to cooperate and communicate their needs, making it safer for a UAP to assist with perineal care under supervision. This delegation frees the licensed nursing staff to focus on more complex nursing duties that involve assessment, clinical judgment, and care planning.

Other tasks listed may involve higher levels of clinical judgment and responsibility. For instance, evaluating a client's intake and output requires a comprehensive understanding of the client's condition and could impact medical decisions. Similarly, giving a bath to a client who is third-spacing would involve monitoring for complications, thereby complicating the delegation. Administering a cation-exchange resin enema requires specialized knowledge and skills that UAPs do not possess, as it is a task that involves direct treatment and clinical decision-making. Thus, these tasks are unsuitable for delegation to UAPs.