How to Delegate Nursing Care

Nursing care is provided by various health care professionals including nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants. These professionals practice in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics and home health. In each of these settings, nursing supervisors delegate tasks to their support staff based on state practice laws, patient needs and staff competency and expertise. Delegating care provides more time for nursing supervisors to perform skilled tasks that cannot be assigned to less qualified staff.

Instructions

• 1

  Before delegating tasks, review your state nursing practice act to understand what falls within the staff member's scope of practice. As a supervisor, your nursing license can be revoked for delegating tasks to unqualified staff. Assign such tasks as assisting with bathing, dressing, eating and basic mobility to certified nursing assistants (CNAs). In some settings, CNAs can take vital signs and report the results to the nurse supervisor. Delegate tasks like medication administration and tube feedings to licensed staff.

• 2

  Delegate tasks to nurses who have demonstrated competency with a particular skill. Although a skill is taught as part of the education process, this does not automatically mean that the nurse is able to complete the task without supervision. Delegate tasks to nurses based on documented competency reviews. For example, a nurse with less experience starting an intravenous line might need supervision before the task can be appropriately delegated to her.

• 3

  Delegate nursing tasks based on the patient's age, medical condition and behavioral characteristics. A nurse who is proficient in adult care might need further training and supervision before providing care to a pediatric patient. A combative or confused patient might require a nurse with more experience in order to ensure staff and patient safety.

• 4

  Review the facility's policies and procedures before delegating nursing tasks. Certain tasks can be delegated in one type of medical setting but not in another. For example, a CNA typically does not perform wound dressing changes in the hospital setting; however, this task might be performed by a CNA providing home health services.