Which statement by a nurse indicates the delegation of responsibilities to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?

The statement "Note the oxygen saturation reading" indicates an appropriate task to delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). This task involves simple monitoring and does not require complex clinical judgment. UAPs can be trained to use equipment that measures oxygen saturation levels, such as pulse oximeters, and can accurately report those findings to a registered nurse or other licensed healthcare provider.

In a healthcare setting, effective delegation involves understanding the capabilities of team members, ensuring tasks align with their training, and maintaining patient safety. Monitoring vital signs, such as oxygen saturation, is a basic task that UAPs are often trained to perform. This allows nurses to focus on more complex tasks that require professional assessment and critical thinking, ensuring efficient care delivery.

In contrast, the other choices involve assessments or tasks that require professional judgment and clinical decision-making. Checking whether the client is taking medications requires understanding the implications of medication adherence, which goes beyond the scope of UAP responsibilities. Assessing the client for pain scale involves subjective evaluation and critical thinking about the patient's condition, requiring the skills of a licensed nurse. Documenting the client’s health history also demands a level of professional understanding and interpretation that UAPs are generally not trained to perform.