Which client can be safely cared for by unlicensed nursing personnel (UNP)?

Unlicensed nursing personnel (UNP) are often utilized for tasks that do not require the specialized skills and critical thinking abilities of licensed nursing staff. Therefore, a client who is stable represents the most appropriate choice for care by UNP.

Stable clients typically have predictable outcomes and do not require intensive monitoring or complex interventions, which allows UNP to assist with basic activities of daily living and uncomplicated tasks effectively. This might include routine care such as feeding, bathing, or assisting with mobility, which aligns with the scope of practice for UNP.

In contrast, clients who are in critical condition, require complex interventions, or need extensive monitoring demand a higher level of assessment, decision-making, and intervention, which is strictly the purview of licensed nursing personnel. Such clients often present fluctuating health statuses that require ongoing evaluation and immediate response to changes, aspects of care that UNP are not qualified to manage.