37 Questions
What is delegation in nursing?
Transferring the performance of a task to another team member, while retaining accountability.
Licensed personnel are individuals who have completed a course of study in nursing and passed either a PN or RN examination.
True
Nurses should consider the predictability of the outcome, potential for harm, and complexity of care before delegating client care tasks to others. They should also assess the delegatee's need for problem solving and ________.
innovation
Match the following delegation guidelines with their descriptions:
Right task = Delegating activities to appropriate levels of team members Right direction = Providing clear directions and communication when assigning tasks Right person = Determining and verifying the competence of the delegatee Right supervision = Overseeing and appraising the performance of delegated tasks
Which of the following tasks should the nurse assign to an assistive personnel (AP)?
Reapplying a condom catheter for a client who has urinary incontinence
A nurse manager is assigning care of a client who is being admitted from the PACU following thoracic surgery. The nurse manager should assign the client to which of the following staff members?
Registered nurse (RN)
Which of the following tasks should the nurse assign to a Practical nurse (PN)?
Assessing a pressure injury on a client who is on bed rest
Which of the following are components of the five rights of delegation? (Select all that apply)
Right circumstances
What is a key factor to consider when delegating a task that requires a high level of interaction with the client?
The delegatee's need for problem-solving skills
Which of the following tasks is least likely to be delegated to an assistive personnel (AP)?
Administering medications
A nurse is considering delegating a task to a Practical nurse (PN). What should the nurse consider first?
The state's practice act and the facility's policy
What is a key consideration when delegating a task with a high potential for harm?
The delegatee's ability to recognize and respond to potential complications
A nurse is delegating a task to a team member. What should the nurse assess before delegating the task?
The predictability of the outcome and potential for harm
Which of the following tasks is most likely to require complex care?
Providing care to a client with a new tracheostomy
A nurse is delegating a task that requires a high level of problem-solving skills. What should the nurse consider?
The delegatee's ability to recognize and respond to unexpected outcomes
What is a key consideration when delegating a task with a low predictability of outcome?
The need for frequent supervision and monitoring
Which delegatee factor is most closely related to the level of interaction with the client?
Need for psychosocial support or education
What is the primary consideration when deciding to delegate a task to an assistive personnel (AP) for a client who requires morning hygiene?
The client's complexity of care demands
What is a key consideration for nurses when delegating tasks that require critical thinking?
The need for problem solving
When delegating tasks, nurses should consider the complexity of care required. Which of the following tasks requires the highest level of complexity?
Providing wound care
A nurse is deciding whether to delegate the task of measuring vital signs to an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following clients would be the most appropriate for delegation?
A client who is postoperative and stable
What is the primary consideration when determining the level of supervision required for an assistive personnel (AP) delegated to assist a client with a shower?
The potential for harm to the client
What is a key consideration for nurses when delegating tasks with a high potential for harm to the client?
The predictability of the outcome
When delegating tasks, nurses should consider the delegatee's ability to perform the task. Which of the following is a key factor in determining this ability?
The delegatee's experience with similar tasks
A nurse is delegating tasks to an assistive personnel (AP) to assist a client with pneumonia. Which of the following tasks would be the most appropriate for delegation?
Assisting with a bedpan
What is the primary consideration when evaluating the performance of an assistive personnel (AP) delegated to assist a client with morning hygiene?
The AP's ability to complete the task on time
What is a key consideration for nurses when delegating tasks that require a high level of critical thinking?
The complexity of care required
When delegating tasks, nurses should consider the potential for harm to the client. Which of the following tasks has a high potential for harm?
Administering medication
A nurse is delegating tasks to an assistive personnel (AP) to assist a client who requires naloxone to reverse respiratory depression. Which of the following tasks would be the most appropriate for delegation?
Assisting with morning hygiene
What is the primary consideration when determining the level of interaction required for an assistive personnel (AP) delegated to assist a client with a shower?
The client's level of complexity of care
What is a key consideration for nurses when delegating tasks that require a high level of interaction with the client?
The delegatee's need for psychosocial support or education
A nurse is delegating tasks to an assistive personnel (AP) to assist a client who is postoperative and stable. Which of the following tasks would be the most appropriate for delegation?
Measuring vital signs
What is a key consideration when delegating a task with a high complexity of care?
The level of interaction with the client required
What is a key factor to consider when delegating a task that requires a high level of problem-solving skills?
The delegatee's knowledge and skill to perform the task
What is a key consideration when delegating a task with a high potential for harm to the client?
The task's complexity of care required
What is a key consideration when delegating a task with a low predictability of outcome?
The delegatee's knowledge and skill to perform the task
What is a key factor to consider when delegating a task that requires a high level of interaction with the client?
The delegatee's ability to communicate with others
Study Notes
Safe and Effective Care Environment: Delegation Factors
- Delegation: the process of transferring the performance of a task to another member of the healthcare team while retaining accountability for the outcome.
- Supervision: the process of directing, monitoring, and evaluating the performance of tasks by another team member.
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Task Factors:
- Predictability of the outcome: consider if the task has a predictable outcome, is a routine treatment, or if it's a new treatment for the client.
- Potential for harm: consider if the task poses a risk to the client, such as bleeding or aspiration.
- Complexity of care: consider if the task requires complex skills or if the state's practice act or facility policy allows the delegatee to perform the task.
- Need for problem-solving and innovation: consider if the task requires judgment, nursing assessment, or data collection skills.
- Level of interaction with the client: consider if the delegatee needs psychosocial support or education during the task.
Delegation: Delegatee Factors
- Education, training, and experience: consider the delegatee's knowledge, skills, and experience in performing the task.
- Level of critical thinking: consider if the task requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to communicate with others: consider if the delegatee can communicate effectively with others regarding the task.
- Demonstration of competence: consider if the delegatee has demonstrated competence in performing the task.
- Facility's policies and procedures: consider if the delegatee is familiar with the facility's policies and procedures related to the task.
- Licensing legislation: consider the state's nurse practice acts and licensing regulations.
Delegation: Task Assignment
- Licensed personnel: can delegate tasks to other licensed personnel, such as PNs or APs.
- Unlicensed personnel: are individuals who have training to function in an assistive role to licensed nurses.
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Examples of tasks that can be delegated:
- Monitoring findings
- Reinforcing client teaching
- Performing routine tasks, such as bathing, dressing, or toileting
- Administering medications (excluding IV medications in some states)
- Vital signs (for stable clients)
- Intake and output
- Specimen collection
- Bed making
- Suctioning
- Tracheostomy care
- Ambulating
- Feeding (without swallowing precautions)
- Positioning
- Routine tasks
Delegation Guidelines
- Right person: determine and verify the competence of the delegatee.
- Right task: consider if the task is within the delegatee's scope of practice or job description.
- Right circumstances: consider the health status and complexity of care the client requires and match it with the skill level of the delegatee.
- Right direction and communication: communicate specific task(s) to perform, client-specific instructions, and expected results, timelines, and expectations for follow-up communication.
- Right supervision and evaluation: provide supervision, monitor performance, and evaluate task performance and identify needs for performance-improvement activities and additional resources.
Delegation and Supervision in Nursing
- Delegation is the process of transferring the performance of a task to another member of the healthcare team while retaining accountability for the outcome.
- Supervision is the process of directing, monitoring, and evaluating the performance of tasks by another team member.
Task Factors to Consider Before Delegating
- Predictability of the outcome: Will the completion of the task have a predictable outcome?
- Is it a routine treatment?
- Is it a new treatment for that client?
- Potential for harm: Is there a chance that something negative could happen to the client?
- Is the client unstable?
- Complexity of care: Does the client’s care require complex tasks?
- Does the state’s practice act or the facility’s policy allow the delegatee to perform the task?
- Does the delegatee have the necessary skills?
Right and Wrong Delegation Examples
- Right task: Delegate an AP to assist a client who has pneumonia to use a bedpan.
- Wrong task: Delegate an AP to administer a nebulizer treatment to a client who has pneumonia.
- Right direction and communication: Delegate an AP to assist Mr. Martin in room 312 with a shower before 0900.
- Wrong direction and communication: Delegate an AP to assist Mr. Martin in room 312 with morning hygiene.
Delegation Factors to Consider
- Right circumstance: Determine the health status and complexity of care the client requires.
- Match the complexity of care demands to the skill level of the delegatee.
- Right supervision and evaluation: Consider the workload of the delegatee and provide supervision, either directly or indirectly.
- Monitor performance and intervene if necessary.
- Provide feedback: Did the delegatee complete the tasks on time? Was the delegatee’s performance satisfactory?
Delegatee Factors to Consider
- Education, training, and experience: Knowledge and skill to perform the task.
- Level of critical thinking the task requires.
- Ability to communicate with others as it pertains to the task.
- Demonstration of competence.
- The facility’s policies and procedures.
- Licensing legislation (state’s nurse practice acts).
Delegation and Supervision in Nursing
- Delegation is the process of transferring the performance of a task to another member of the healthcare team while retaining accountability for the outcome.
- Supervision is the process of directing, monitoring, and evaluating the performance of tasks by another team member.
Task Factors to Consider Before Delegating
- Predictability of the outcome: Will the completion of the task have a predictable outcome?
- Is it a routine treatment?
- Is it a new treatment for that client?
- Potential for harm: Is there a chance that something negative could happen to the client?
- Is the client unstable?
- Complexity of care: Does the client’s care require complex tasks?
- Does the state’s practice act or the facility’s policy allow the delegatee to perform the task?
- Does the delegatee have the necessary skills?
Right and Wrong Delegation Examples
- Right task: Delegate an AP to assist a client who has pneumonia to use a bedpan.
- Wrong task: Delegate an AP to administer a nebulizer treatment to a client who has pneumonia.
- Right direction and communication: Delegate an AP to assist Mr. Martin in room 312 with a shower before 0900.
- Wrong direction and communication: Delegate an AP to assist Mr. Martin in room 312 with morning hygiene.
Delegation Factors to Consider
- Right circumstance: Determine the health status and complexity of care the client requires.
- Match the complexity of care demands to the skill level of the delegatee.
- Right supervision and evaluation: Consider the workload of the delegatee and provide supervision, either directly or indirectly.
- Monitor performance and intervene if necessary.
- Provide feedback: Did the delegatee complete the tasks on time? Was the delegatee’s performance satisfactory?
Delegatee Factors to Consider
- Education, training, and experience: Knowledge and skill to perform the task.
- Level of critical thinking the task requires.
- Ability to communicate with others as it pertains to the task.
- Demonstration of competence.
- The facility’s policies and procedures.
- Licensing legislation (state’s nurse practice acts).
This quiz covers the principles of delegation in nursing care, including factors to consider when delegating tasks and supervising others.
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