Which staff member would be least appropriate to assign to the client receiving magnesium intravenously? A. The nursing assistant B. The licensed practical nurse C. The graduate registered nurse D. The surgical resident

Begin by understanding the different roles and qualifications of the four staff members mentioned in the exercise: A. Nursing assistant: They provide basic patient care and assist with activities of daily living. They typically work under the supervision of a nurse and do not hold a professional nursing license. B. Licensed practical nurse (LPN): They hold a nursing license, are trained to provide basic nursing care, and can administer medications under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. C. Graduate registered nurse (RN): They have completed their nursing education and are qualified to provide comprehensive nursing care, which includes administering medication and monitoring patients. D. Surgical resident: They are a physician who specializes in surgery and went through medical school. They are in the process of completing their surgical residency training and are not focused on routine nursing care.

Intravenous magnesium administration requires careful monitoring of the patient's vital signs and assessments of their response to the treatment. This type of care requires knowledge and skills beyond basic patient care provided by nursing assistants, but not necessarily the expertise of a surgical resident.

Now that the roles and qualifications of each staff member have been identified, compare these to the needs of a patient receiving intravenous magnesium: A. Nursing assistant: They do not possess the training or credentials to administer intravenous medication or monitor patients who are receiving it. B. Licensed practical nurse: They can administer medication and provide basic monitoring under supervision, making them an appropriate choice for this task. C. Graduate registered nurse: With their training and qualifications, they are well-equipped to administer intravenous medication and monitor patients throughout the process. D. Surgical resident: Though they have the knowledge and skill set to provide this care, it is not their primary focus or area of expertise.

Based on the comparison of staff qualifications and patient needs, the least appropriate staff member to assign to a client receiving magnesium intravenously is A. The nursing assistant. Nursing assistants do not have the training or credentials to administer intravenous medications or monitor patients receiving such treatment. Instead, these duties are better suited for LPNs, RNs, or in some cases, physicians.