What task can be delegated to an assistive personnel (AP) in a long-term care facility?

In a long-term care facility, providing postmortem care for a client is a task that can be delegated to assistive personnel (AP). This responsibility involves activities such as cleaning and preparing the body, removing any tubes or dressings, and ensuring the area is respectful and dignified for family members to visit. These tasks do not require advanced nursing judgment or specialized medical knowledge, making them suitable for delegation to APs who are trained to perform such duties within their scope of practice.

In contrast, administering medication requires a licensed nurse to ensure safe and appropriate medication management, as it involves understanding the pharmacology and monitoring for side effects. Assessing clients' health status is also beyond an AP's scope, as this task needs critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills that are part of a nurse's responsibilities. Educating clients about their treatment involves providing comprehensive information and support, which again requires the nursing expertise and judgment that APs do not possess.