Which task should the nurse assign to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) for clients with diabetes needing capillary blood glucose levels done?

Assigning the task of performing capillary blood glucose measurements to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) is appropriate because this procedure typically falls within the scope of practice for UAP after they have received adequate training. UAP can be trained to accurately obtain a blood sample from the finger using a glucometer, which is a straightforward and routine task. This delegation allows registered nurses to focus on more complex aspects of diabetes management, such as interpreting blood glucose levels and adjusting insulin dosages based on those readings.

On the other hand, tasks like administering subcutaneous sliding scale insulin, providing dietary instructions, and evaluating clients’ overall health status require the clinical judgment and expertise of a licensed nurse. These responsibilities involve assessing the client's health status, understanding the implications of blood glucose levels, and making decisions based on that information, which exceeds the UAP's scope of practice. Hence, assigning the capillary glucose measurement to UAP supports efficient teamwork while ensuring that more critical nursing actions remain with the RN.