Which duty can a patient care tech handle in the SCI patient plan of care?

• A. Obtain a blood pressure.
• B. Assess the IV site.
• C. Do initial teaching for incentive spirometer.
• D. Turn the patient independently.

Answer: (A)

Understanding scope of practice and delegation in a spinal cord injury care plan helps determine what a patient care tech can handle. A patient care tech can obtain routine vital signs, including blood pressure. This is a straightforward data collection task that doesn’t require clinical judgment, so it fits within a PCT role under supervision. In contrast, assessing an IV site requires nursing assessment to decide if there’s infiltration, phlebitis, or other issues, which goes beyond a PCT’s duties. Initial teaching for an incentive spirometer involves patient education and technique instruction, best provided by a nurse or respiratory therapist. Turning the patient independently raises safety concerns and is not typically performed without appropriate staff support, especially with spinal cord injury patients who have mobility and safety considerations. Therefore, obtaining a blood pressure is the appropriate duty for a patient care tech in the SCI plan.