...Effective delegation permits a successful transition of an assignment in a safe and compatible approach (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2016). The registered nurse (RN) is expected to delegate efficiently and cautiously. Unfortunately, the high acuity of patients in hospitals demands RNs to make complicated decisions when delegating (Mueller & Vogelsmeier, 2013). In regards to the scenario provided, the charge nurse violated two principles of delegation: directing care/determining the appropriate practice of resources and the acknowledgment that delegation involves the concept of mutual respect (Sullivan, 2018). The charge nurse violated directing care when she instructed the unlicensed staff to hang tube feeding. A licensed nurse is not permitted to delegate any activity that requires nursing judgment or critical decision making (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2016)....
Words: 356 - Pages: 2
...first scenario will demonstrate passive communication that leads to a passive aggressive outcome. The charge nurse in intensive care unit delegates out assignments to the other nurses, and at times the intensive care unit nurses refused to take more than two patients. Instead of the intensive care unit charge nurse delegating assertively the assignments she chooses to take the third patient. This causes her to become greatly behind in her own care, in turn providing a lower level of care to her patients. In a code or emergency situations because the charge nurse becomes burdened down with three patients, she cannot assist in these emergency situations and poorly manages direction and flow of the unit. This has led to the charge nurse holding resentment to some of the other nurses because they refuse an extra workload. When it came time for the other nurses to take vacation the charge nurse who does the scheduling tried to be fair and took three days less of her own vacation days to facilitate the fellow nurses vacation. The charge nurse did bring it to the attention of the manager; both nurses cannot take vacation at the same time. The manager did not listen to the charge nurse and granted both the vacations. This led to multiple nights putting the intensive care unit short with their staffing matrix. Thus, causing the charge nurse to take three to four patients. The charge nurse became so...
Words: 1241 - Pages: 5
...------------------------------------------------- Does delegation help or hurt nursing? A Research Paper April 11, 2013 Fiona Molloy Dr. McDonnell HAS 420 April 11, 2013 Fiona Molloy Dr. McDonnell HAS 420 Fiona Molloy Dr. McDonnell/Bill Miller HSA 420 Does Delegation Help or Hurt Nursing? Chapter One: The History of Nursing. The first nursing school was established in India in about 250 B.C., and only men were permitted to attend because men were viewed to be more pure than women. If you think of a woman dressed in scrubs with a stethoscope around her neck and a clipboard in her hands, you aren’t alone. An overwhelming majority of nurses in the United States today are women. However, nursing began as a practice reserved for men. It wasn’t until the 1800's that nursing became an organized practice. During the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale and 38 volunteer nurses were sent to the main British camp in Turkey. Nightingale and her staff immediately began to clean the hospital and equipment and reorganized patient care. Nightingale pushed for reform of hospital sanitation methods and invented methods of graphing statistical data. When she returned to Britain, Nightingale aided in the establishment of the Royal Commission on the Health of the Army. As a woman, Nightingale could not be appointed to the Royal Commission, but she composed the Commission’s report. (Travel Nurses of America, 2010) Completed, the report was over 1,000 pages in length and included detailed...
Words: 3287 - Pages: 14
...2003, p. 268). Accountability is defined as, "being responsible and liable for actions or failure of actions of oneself or others in the context of delegation" (NCSBN, 2009). This is in reference to the nurse's legal liability for the actions taken and patient outcomes. Accountability and responsibility are different, as responsibility belongs to the person doing the task and accountability belongs to the person who assigned the task. The nurse is both accountable for the task being completed and is also responsible for the patients in their care. (RCN, 2010) Accountability and responsibility are two essential parts of delegation. DeWits and O’Neill (2014) define delegation as "transferring the authority to perform a selected nursing task in a selected situation to a competent individual ". When delegating, the registered nurse (RN) allocates nursing tasks to health care assistants (HCAs) while still remaining accountable for the patient and the task that was assigned. Delegating is a management technique that is used to provide more efficient care to patients. (NCSBN, 2009) Permitting HCAs to take on nursing responsibilities allows the nurse to complete other tasks that need to be completed; however, delegation is done at the nurses' discretion and is a personal choice. Nurses need to make careful decisions regarding delegation, taking into account the skill and training of the HCA, the difficulty and risk of the task, and the patient's condition. The expected outcomes, a time...
Words: 1804 - Pages: 8
...Application of Benner’s theory to problem of delegation Introduction A frequent problem at work is that registered nurse's (RNs) are often reluctant to delegate tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Many patients at the hospital suffer from strokes, spinal injuries, brain tumors, dementia/Alzhiemer’s disease, or other devastating illnesses/injuries. Also, large hospitals and hospitals in urban areas tend to have numerous patients at the hospitals at any given time. Every day hospital units are quite busy and nurses are required to turn, feed, constantly observe for patient safety, bathe, and assist with elimination. RNs need to delegate the tasks or responsibilities to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) or other healthcare professionals....
Words: 1062 - Pages: 5
...non-licensed personnel is by professional nurses, staffing requirements are based on acuity levels and optimum staffing models, and nursing leadership and management as areas I would address as a nurse manager. As a registered nurse you are responsible for the supervision of unlicensed direct care staff in the performance of nursing tasks and activities. It is the responsibility of the nurse manager and the company to ensure that all staff is adequately trained regarding the elements of supervision and delegation of duties. As a nurse manager address the following will help improve quality of care for patients. The initial training of the task or activity, and periodic inspection of the actual act of accomplishing the task or activity are important for proper patient care. The amount and type of nursing supervision required will be determined by the registered nurse responsible for supervising the task or activity, and will depend upon the complexity of the task, the skill, experience and training of the staff, and the health conditions and health status of the patient (Potter & Kuhrik, 2010). The purpose of delegation is to gain work efficiency, which can only be achieved when registered nurses and patient care technicians work together in partnership to manage the changing priorities of care within a patient care assignment (Potter & Kuhrik, 2010). Delegation is not only key for the registered nurse it is key for the nurse manager. Delegation is the link that joins organizational...
Words: 656 - Pages: 3
...Priorities and Delegation Paper Delegation and assignment of nursing activities are important parts of the implementation component of practice for the registered nurse and licensed practical nurse. The licensed nurse may delegate and assign nursing care activities to other licensed nurses or unlicensed assistive personnel. This is based on their own licensed level, assessment of the client’s status, clinical competence of licensed and unlicensed personnel, and factors in each practice setting. Before assigning and delegating nursing activities to staff, the nurse needs information about the staff so that they can confidently assign them to the patients. One must know the legal roles in RNs and LPNs before delegation can occur. Delegation by RNs and LPNs must be within their scope or practice. Duties and responsibilities vary in different states. According to the Massachusetts Nurse Practice Act in the state of Massachusetts, nurses may assign and delegate the UAP any activities that do not require nursing assessment and judgment during implementation. In addition, they can allow the UAP to collect, report, and document simple data. Furthermore, UAP may be involved in activities that assist the patient in meeting basic human needs such as nutrition, hydration, mobility, comfort, elimination, socialization, rest and hygiene. In the state of Massachusetts, there are four nursing activities that must not be delegated to the patients. These activities include...
Words: 1911 - Pages: 8
...Delegation Angela C NUR 251 Nursing Theory & Science III September 23, 2010 Delegation is an important part of the nursing profession. In order to get the job of patient care accomplished there must be coordinated efforts among many different individuals. Delegation and assigning are sometimes used interchangeably; however, these two words have different meanings. Assigning occurs when one registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN), acting as a charge nurse or supervisor, assigns or designates certain patients or tasks for certain patients, to another RN or LPN, respectively, in essence transferring responsibility to another person with the same licensure. Delegation, on the other hand, is defined as entrusting another person to do a specific task for which the delegator retains full responsibility. Registered nurses have the ability to delegate certain tasks to other RN’s, LPN’s, as well as unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP’s). However, this is not something that can be taken lightly. The delegator must have the educational background to think critically and use professional judgment, considering many aspects before delegating an activity to another person, licensed or unlicensed, and certain conditions must be met before this can occur. The most important aspect that must be considered is whether it is within the scope of this nurse’s authority to delegate the specific task. Once this is established, the nurse delegating must assess the patient’s...
Words: 555 - Pages: 3
...Delegation Example in a Healthcare Setting Abiola Edwards April22, 2010 Introduction * Definition of delegation * Delegation process * Delegation issue one faces at work * Stakeholders in their different roles * Choosing the right stakeholder * How to communicate with stakeholders * Conflict resolution * Feedback/ Evaluation * Recommendations * Summary * References My name is Sadie Edwards and I have over 10 years of nursing experience Definition of Delegation Delegation: Transferring to a competent individual the authority to perform a selected nursing task in a selected situation. The nurse retains accountability for the delegation. Concepts and Decision-Making Process National Council Position Paper, 1995 Most nurses would rather do the tasks themselves, but they can not perform all of them safely. According to Hansten & Jackson, “it is our responsibility to the patients we care for to ensure that they receive the best that we can offer by delegating wisely”. Delegation Process * Define the task * Select the individual or team * Assess ability and training needs * Explain the reasons * State required results * Consider resources required * Agree to deadline * Support and communicate * Feedback and results Alan Chapman, Delegation 1995-2009 The steps to successful delegation are: 1. To define the task, ask yourself if the task is right to be delegated. Does it meet the criteria...
Words: 1295 - Pages: 6
...Continuing Education Effective Delegation: Understanding Responsibility, Authority, and Accountability Christine Mueller, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Amy Vogelsmeier, PhD, RN The obligation to provide safe, quality care creates challenges and concerns when registered nurses (RNs) delegate duties to unlicensed assistive personnel. These challenges and concerns are magnified in today’s health care environment of shrinking resources; patients with complex, chronic conditions; health care settings with high patient acuity rates; and the use of sophisticated technology. To make safe, effective delegation decisions, RNs must understand the responsibility, authority, and accountability related to delegation. Delegation decisions must be based on the fundamental principle of public protection. This article describes effective delegation by presenting the factors affecting delegation, explaining when and what an RN can delegate, and describing the delegation process. Learning Objectives ⦁ ⦁ ⦁ Identify three factors that affect delegation. Discuss what registered nurses can and cannot delegate. Explain the steps of the delegation process. N ursing’s Social Policy Statement (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2010), the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2001), and individual state nurse practice acts (NPAs) underscore the responsibility, authority, and accountability of registered nurses (RNs) for their nursing practice. The RN’s obligation...
Words: 5394 - Pages: 22
...Reducing Your Risk As a Registered Nurse (RN), we have the responsibility of delegating tasks to our team of nurses and aids. We may have Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), patient care techs (PCT), mental health techs (MHT), or certified nursing assistants (CNA) on our unit and are responsible for all of their actions. The RN must be familiar with the rules of delegation and take responsibility for the delegations that he assigns. The Arkansas State Board of Nursing rules, chapter five delegation, lists criteria for delegation: a licensed nurse delegating the task is responsible for the nursing care given to the client and for the final decision regarding which nursing tasks can be safely delegated ("ASBN," 2008, para. 3). Followed by seven other provisions that must be met. It also lists specific nursing tasks which may be delegated without prior nursing assessment, and nursing tasks that may not be routinely delegated. When I work on the psychiatric unit we usually have a set team that includes a RN charge nurse, an RN, an LPN, and three MHTs. We have...
Words: 696 - Pages: 3
...Communication Case Study There are several different communication methods during the delegation process. After analyzing three scenarios, this paper will illustrate the passive, assertive, aggressive, and passive-aggressive techniques. Scenario 1 The nurse in the scenario is displaying a very aggressive attitude. The assistant becomes quiet and has some passive-aggressive ideas for retaliation. While being a charge nurse, I had to delegate a task to radiology technologists. They became very defensive and questioned the authority. At this point, I became aggressive, and stopped all communication. If I could do it again, I should have remained calm and explained the reasoning behind the tasks. I could have kept a firm and confident tone with being aggressive. Scenario 2 The nurse is following up on tasks delegated to the volunteer. Avoiding confrontation, the nurse takes a nonassertive stance and finishes the tasks herself. Early in my career as an emergency room nurse, I would take a nonassertive approach to dealing with difficult seasoned techs. It was very exhausting, and it seemed the techs would take advantage of it. The thought of an encounter with techs led to the nonassertive behavior. I would always feel so overworked when working with the techs. The nurse manager finally gave some advice for ways to improve assertiveness. She also supported me during staff meetings. Scenario 3 The surgical tech told her boss that she would not scrub any orthopedic...
Words: 334 - Pages: 2
...I read the assignment for this paper, I thought the answers were clear cut and easy. As I was researching for the paper, I found that I was becoming extremely defensive in the cases where studies were attempting to prove Associate-Degree Registered Nurses were not as competent as Baccalaureate-Degree Registered Nurses. I felt personally attacked. When I asked myself why I was taking this course to further my education and proceed towards obtaining a Baccalaureate-Degree, the answers became clear and obvious once again. In researching the differences in competencies of nurses prepared at the associate-degree level verses the baccalaureate-degree in the nursing field there was little evidence to show a significant difference in initial practice. Both ADN and BSN nursing graduates are required to pass the same National Licensure Council Examination (NCLEX). BSN and ADN nurses initially practice at a similar level. (Davis-Martin & Skalak, 1992, p. 27). In the both ADN and BSN nursing programs students are prepared with courses in ethics, nursing process, critical thinking, accountability, and basic understanding of cultural diversity among the nursing curriculum. Yet there are some basic preparation differences. BSN prepared nurses are required to take courses in liberal arts and humanities which create a well diverse or well-rounded student. The BSN program also requires courses in community health, and more in-depth leadership/management, and cultural diversity classes (Meyer...
Words: 897 - Pages: 4
...patient outcome. Nurses usually spend the most time with the patient during their time of sickness. Therefore, the nurse caring for a patient has to be able to delegate other personnel in a manner that will not only get the task done, but also have the delegate doing the task willingly. Most common communication styles are passive, aggressive, and assertive. Hansten and Jackson give great examples for each communication style. First scenario is of aggressive nature. The nurse uses word to belittle the CAN. As result the CAN felt resentment and thinking about revenge. The nurse should have approached the CNA in a more assertive manner. In the second scenario Pam, the school nurse, handles the situation in a passive manner. If she would have approached the situation with the volunteer in an assertive manner, Pam should have addressed the volunteer about the situation. This situation might cause for Pam to feel resentful towards the volunteer. Most beneficial approach was in the third scenario. Rosa explained her expectations to the Mable, the surgical technician, in an assertive manner. When leading patient with assertiveness, the leader ensures that issues are addressed directly and effectively. Assertive communication displays confidence in their decisions and their delegations. From my own experience, I had a recent experience on my unit that I could have handled differently. A fellow more seasoned nurse had a declining patient during the night. I was the charge nurse on the unit...
Words: 502 - Pages: 3
...Stella8029@gmail.com Education/Credentials Registered nurse, licensed in the state of Florida, attending Bachelor of Science in nursing at Broward College. Expected graduation date: 12/2015. Present GPA: 3.43. ACLS/BLS/ ONS certification. Member of the Bachelor Honor Society. Associate degree in nursing obtained at Miami Dade College. Nursing Experience Registered nurse working for the past 12 years as a staff and charge RN at University of Miami, Sylvester in the oncology unit, Inpatient department with growing experience in stem cell, bone marrow transplant as well as past medical/ surgical, telemetry and step-down background. High standard of nursing care for diverse population of patients. Dedicated, skilled RN with a broad range of healthcare experience. Responsibilities Assessment, admission, chemotherapy/medication administration with computer documentation, assistance with stem cell transplant, lumbar puncture, bone marrow biopsy, central line placement, intravenous therapy, phlebotomy, daily administration of blood products, coordination of care with doctors, patients/family and care plan administration. Delegation of duties and charge RN tasks when working as a charge nurse in fast paced environment area. Additional Skills and Accomplishments Excellent computer and communication skills with fluency in English, French, Creole, Spanish. Appreciated by coworkers and patients for being a team player. Nominated nurse of the year in 2012. Engaged in community services...
Words: 337 - Pages: 2
