Which patient would be most suitable for assignment to an LPN?

The most suitable patient for assignment to a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is the 78-year-old female with osteoporosis needing assistance with exercises. LPNs are trained to provide basic nursing care, including assistance with daily activities and mobility, which is essential for patients with conditions like osteoporosis. In this case, the LPN can help monitor the patient during exercise, ensuring safety and promoting physical activity aimed at maintaining bone health, which is critical for a patient with osteoporosis.

While the other patients present clinical situations requiring more advanced nursing care and critical thinking skills typically performed by Registered Nurses (RNs), the case of the elderly female patient allows for effective delegation of routine exercise assistance to an LPN. The other scenarios involve higher acuity situations, such as active GI bleeding, post-operative care with potential complications, and chest pain, all of which require a deeper level of assessment and intervention that aligns with an RN’s scope of practice.