You are caring for a client who has just had a squamous cell carcinoma removed from the face. Which activity can you delegate to an experienced LPN/LVN?

You are caring for a client who has just had a squamous cell carcinoma removed from the face. Which activity can you delegate to an experienced LPN/LVN?

• A. Teaching risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma
• B. Showing the client how to care for the surgical site at home
• C. Monitoring the surgical site for swelling, bleeding, or pain
• D. Discussing the reasons for avoiding aspirin use for a week after surgery

Answer: (C)

Focusing on routine, ongoing assessment of a stable post-op client is what an experienced LPN/LVN is prepared to handle. Monitoring the surgical site for swelling, bleeding, and pain fits this role because it is a continuous, observable parameter that the LPN can track over time, document, and promptly report to the RN if any changes occur. This keeps the client safe by ensuring that emerging complications are caught early, while the RN retains responsibility for overall care planning and any necessary changes to the plan. The other tasks involve education and interpretation that typically require the RN’s broader scope. Teaching risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma or discussing why to avoid aspirin post-surgery are educational activities that require deeper assessment and coordination with the overall treatment plan. Demonstrating home wound-care and ensuring patient understanding is teaching-oriented and may require nurse–patient education skills that go beyond routine observation, depending on the setting.

Focusing on routine, ongoing assessment of a stable post-op client is what an experienced LPN/LVN is prepared to handle. Monitoring the surgical site for swelling, bleeding, and pain fits this role because it is a continuous, observable parameter that the LPN can track over time, document, and promptly report to the RN if any changes occur. This keeps the client safe by ensuring that emerging complications are caught early, while the RN retains responsibility for overall care planning and any necessary changes to the plan.

The other tasks involve education and interpretation that typically require the RN’s broader scope. Teaching risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma or discussing why to avoid aspirin post-surgery are educational activities that require deeper assessment and coordination with the overall treatment plan. Demonstrating home wound-care and ensuring patient understanding is teaching-oriented and may require nurse–patient education skills that go beyond routine observation, depending on the setting.