A patient is hospitalized with adrenocortical insufficiency. Which nursing activity should you delegate to a UAP?

• A. Reminding the patient to change positions slowly
• B. Assessing the patient for muscle weakness
• C. Teaching the patient how to collect a 24-hour urine sample
• D. Revising the patient's nursing plan of care

Answer: (A)

The key idea is delegating safe, non-clinical tasks to a UAP while preserving nursing judgment for assessments and planning. For a patient with adrenocortical (Addison) insufficiency, orthostatic hypotension can occur due to volume depletion. A simple safety measure—reminding the patient to change positions slowly when getting in and out of bed or standing—helps prevent dizziness and falls without requiring clinical evaluation or teaching. This is within a UAP’s scope because it’s a routine safety reminder and does not involve assessing symptoms, interpreting data, or modifying the care plan.

Why the other tasks go to the nurse: assessing the patient for muscle weakness requires clinical observation and interpretation to determine if symptoms reflect electrolyte imbalance or disease progression. Teaching how to collect a 24-hour urine sample involves education and ensuring proper technique, which requires nursing responsibility. Revising the nursing plan of care is part of the nursing process and hinges on professional judgment and evaluation, not delegation.