The plan of care for a diabetic patient includes all of these interventions. Which intervention should you delegate to a UAP?

• A. Checking to make sure that the patient's bath water is not too hot
• B. Discussing community resources for diabetic outpatient care
• C. Teaching the patient to perform daily foot inspection
• D. Assessing the patient's technique for drawing insulin into a syringe

Answer: (A)

Delegation to a UAP works best for tasks that keep the patient safe and don’t require nursing judgment or teaching. Checking that the bath water isn’t too hot is a straightforward safety check that a UAP can handle. It involves observing and ensuring a safe environment, reducing the risk of burns, without needing to interpret data, modify a plan, or provide education.

The other tasks require professional nursing responsibilities. Discussing community resources for outpatient diabetes care involves coordinating care and tailoring resources to the patient’s situation, which is beyond a UAP role. Teaching the patient to perform daily foot inspections requires patient education and evaluation of understanding and technique, which nurses typically provide. Assessing how a patient draws insulin into a syringe involves evaluating technique and safety, which requires nursing assessment and clinical judgment.