For which client is it most appropriate for unlicensed assistive personnel to measure vital signs?

Measuring vital signs is a fundamental duty often performed by unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) in various healthcare settings, especially for clients whose conditions are stable and do not require intensive monitoring by licensed nursing staff.

In this scenario, the most appropriate choice is a client being admitted for elective surgery with a history of stable hypertension. This client's condition is predictable and stable since they have controlled hypertension and are not in any acute distress. Such patients typically require vital signs to be checked as part of the pre-operative assessment, which can be efficiently delegated to UAP.

In contrast, clients who are experiencing acute respiratory distress, have unstable blood pressure, or are in a critical care unit are either in unstable conditions or require ongoing assessment and intervention that should be performed by licensed nursing staff. These situations necessitate a higher level of clinical judgment and immediate response, which is outside the scope of practice for UAP. Therefore, measuring vital signs in these cases would not be appropriate for unlicensed personnel.