On a busy medical-surgical unit, the charge nurse asks an LPN/VN to change the dressing on a client's newly placed suprapubic catheter insertion site and to assess the surrounding tissue for signs of infection before documenting findings independently. The LPN/VN has performed routine dressing changes but has never cared for a suprapubic catheter site and was not trained on assessing for complications specific to this device during orientation. The charge nurse is currently in another client's room but is reachable by phone. The unit is fully staffed today with one RN and two LPN/VNs. The 52-year-old client, who reports difficulty sleeping due to catheter discomfort, has stable vital signs. What should the LPN/VN do first?
- Decline the entire assignment and ask to be given no catheter-related tasks for the shift.
- Tell the RN to complete the task since it falls under RN responsibility.
- Contact the charge nurse to explain the lack of training and request guidance or reassignment before proceeding.
- Perform the dressing change and independent site assessment using best judgment.