NCLEX-PN® ExaminationCoordinated CareMedium
An LPN is supervising a nursing assistant (NA) who is providing morning care for a client with a new colostomy. The LPN observes the NA attempting to change the colostomy bag without wearing gloves. What is the LPN's MOST appropriate immediate action?
- AImmediately intervene and instruct the NA to don gloves before continuing care.
- BTake over the colostomy care from the NA to ensure proper technique.
- CWait until the NA has completed the task and then provide education on infection control.
- DDocument the NA's unsafe practice in their personnel file for future review.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Immediately intervene and instruct the NA to don gloves before continuing care.
The LPN has a responsibility to ensure client safety and adherence to infection control standards. Observing an NA performing a task without appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), like gloves during colostomy care, requires immediate intervention to prevent potential infection for both the client and the NA.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. While taking over ensures proper technique, the primary goal of supervision is to correct and educate the NA, allowing them to learn and safely perform the task. Immediate correction followed by allowing the NA to complete the task correctly is preferable to simply taking over without education.
- C. Waiting would allow the unsafe practice to continue, potentially exposing the client and NA to infection.
- D. Documentation is important, but it is not the immediate action required to prevent harm in a real-time unsafe situation.
Supervision: Immediate Safety Intervention
The direct oversight and guidance provided by a licensed nurse to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), requiring immediate action when unsafe practices are observed to ensure client safety and prevent harm.
- LPNs are responsible for supervising NAs within their scope.
- Immediate intervention is necessary for observed unsafe practices.
- Focuses on preventing harm and correcting technique in real-time.
Memory trick: See something unsafe? Stop, shield, and show.