Throughout the history of nursing, there has always been an enormous workload. As time progressed it has become necessary for nurses to delegate tasks in order to complete all necessary tasks. Each nurse will have a varying number of patients and each patient's needs will vary greatly. However, it has become apparent that there is too much work to be done and not enough nurses to do the work. Due to this delegation has become a vital part of nursing. Delegation is the act of transferring the authority and responsibility to perform a selected nursing task that the staff member would not normally be allowed to perform to a competent staff member (Cherry, Jacob, 2017). Delegation is a skill that all nurses require in modern society Most Registered Nurses (RNs) will delegate to Certified Nursing Assistants or Licensed Nursing Assistants, patient care technicians, as well other members of the care team (Cherry, Jacob, 2017).
Risks & Responsibilities of Delegation:
During delegation, the RN (delegator) is responsible for assessing the client’s needs, the
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It is important to remember that delegation transfers the task however the delegator still holds accountability. In all cases, it is vital that the delegator and delegatee are aware of their responsibilities and have the patient’s best interest in mind. For delegation to work at its finest the delegator should check with the patient and delegatee to have and provide and receive feedback. By combining both the nursing process and the Five Rights of Delegation than a nurse will be able to help reduce risk. Another aspect that is highly important for delegation is the relationships between the delegator and delegatee. Having a strong relationship with the delegatee will help provide better work dynamic, better communication, and a more effective team. Delegation is a highly complex skill combining many aspects of nursing, however if done well is a great tool for