Which task is appropriate to delegate to a UAP during a medical-surgical patient’s shift?

• A. Ambulation
• B. Assessing lung sounds
• C. Administering IV medications
• D. Teaching the patient

Answer: (A)

Ambulation is appropriate to delegate to a UAP because it is a routine, noninvasive activity that focuses on safety and mobility rather than clinical assessment or decision-making. When a patient is stable and cleared for activity, a UAP can help with transferring from bed to chair, assisting with walking, and ensuring the patient is safe during movement. This frees the licensed nurse to focus on tasks that require judgment and assessment.

The other tasks involve clinical evaluation, invasive procedures, or patient education, which require nursing licensure. Assessing lung sounds requires auscultation and interpretation; administering IV medications demands sterile technique, dosage verification, and monitoring for adverse effects; teaching the patient involves conveying information and assessing understanding, which requires professional knowledge and a targeted nurse–patient interaction. Thus, ambulation aligns with the scope of what a UAP can safely support under supervision. Always ensure the patient is stable and within policy, with the RN maintaining oversight and making the final call on mobility.