Delegation: What the LPN Can and Cannot Do
Delegation questions appear on the NCLEX-PN from two directions: tasks delegated TO the LPN by the RN, and tasks the LPN might delegate to the nursing assistant (NA/UAP). Both directions test the same underlying knowledge — who is trained, licensed, and accountable for which tasks.
What Can Be Delegated to the LPN From the RN
| Task | LPN Can Do? | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Administer oral, IM, subcutaneous medications | Yes | Must be ordered and within training |
| Perform wound care and dressing changes | Yes | Reinforce or perform as ordered |
| Insert urinary catheter | Yes | As ordered; per training |
| Collect vital signs and report | Yes | Routine monitoring |
| Initiate IV therapy or IV push medications | No (most states) | RN responsibility; state specific |
| Perform initial nursing assessment | No | RN responsibility |
| Develop or modify the care plan | No | RN responsibility |
What the LPN Can Delegate to the NA/UAP
The LPN can delegate tasks that are routine, require no clinical judgment, and have predictable outcomes. The LPN cannot delegate tasks that require nursing knowledge, clinical decision-making, or that involve unstable patients.
| Task | Safe to Delegate to NA? |
|---|---|
| Vital signs on stable patients | Yes |
| Assist with bathing and ADLs | Yes |
| Ambulate a stable postoperative patient | Yes (with clear instructions) |
| Vital signs on a new admission or unstable patient | No |
| Foley catheter insertion | No |
| Collect urine, stool, or wound specimens | No |
Aha Moment: When a NCLEX-PN question asks which patient the LPN should “see first” in a delegation scenario, pick the most clinically complex or unstable patient — that one cannot safely be delegated and requires the LPN’s direct attention.
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