Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The choice that states "collects clinical data" is correct because unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are trained to perform specific tasks that are fundamental to patient care, such as gathering vital signs, inputting data into electronic health records, and reporting these findings to the registered nurse. The role of the UAP is to assist with non-nursing functions, which may involve the collection of data that supports the nursing process but does not include analysis or interpretation of that data.

An unlicensed assistant is not trained to interpret clinical data, as this responsibility falls within the purview of licensed nursing professionals. They do not engage with the nursing process as autonomously as licensed nurses do. While UAPs are valuable team members, they need to work under the supervision of a registered nurse and cannot function independently in making clinical decisions or addressing complex nursing assessments. This distinction is crucial for maintaining safe patient care and ensuring each team member operates within their scope of practice.