Mastering Delegation in Nursing: Here’s What You Need to Know

• Delegation in nursing is a system that allows nurses to assign tasks to others on the healthcare team based on their ability, experience, and knowledge. 
• It is a great time management tool to master, especially when nurse-to-patient ratios are uneven. 
• Want to master delegation in nursing? Keep reading!

What is Delegation in Nursing? 

The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines delegation in nursing as,  

“The RN assigns or delegates tasks based on the needs and condition of the healthcare consumer, potential for harm, stability of the patient’s condition, complexity of the task, predictability of the outcome, qualifications and abilities of the personnel to whom the task delegated, and the context of other patients’ needs.” 

From certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to RNs, APRNs, and DNPs, there are many members that make up a nursing care team. 

When considering factors such as the ongoing pandemic and the nursing burnout crisis causing staffing shortages, it is evident that nurse-to-patient ratios have surpassed the average. 

Nurses have less time and more patients.  

So, what can you, as the provider, do? 

Delegation in nursing is a great time management tool that allows the provider to appropriately assign tasks to other nursing personnel. 

Want to know how you can master delegation in nursing? Let’s find out!

First Things First: The 5 Rights of Delegation 

In order to master delegation in nursing, one must understand the individual policies and procedures of delegation that is specific to their facility; however, there are a few that are universal.  

RegisteredNursing.org highlights the five rights of nursing delegation, check them out: 

• The “right” person 
• The “right” task 
• The “right” circumstances 
• The “right” directions and communication 
• The “right” supervision and evaluation 

Right person: Whether you are an RN or an APRN, being able to understand the scope of practice, education, and experiences of others is key.  

For example, if a patient needs to be repositioned, this might be a task that is delegated to a CNA. 

Right task: This idea branches off of the right person, and it is essential that a delegate is aware of the abilities and scope of practice that a nurse is able to practice in. Verify that a nurse can handle the assigned task.  

Right circumstances: Is this an emergency delegation? Is this a teaching opportunity? Is now a good time to pass a task on to another provider? 

Right directions and communication: As a leader, are you going to provide thorough explanations and allow for questions when delegating a task? Are you going to communicate clearly and effectively? These factors may impact the quality of care a patient receives, especially if the nurse is unclear about the task being asked of them.  

Right supervision and evaluation: If a task is being delegated to a vocational nurse or CNA, will an RN be there to supervise? 

Mastering Delegation in Nursing: Tips 

Understanding that communication is key

As a result of the ongoing pandemic, the healthcare system is in a state of chaos. 

Nurses are being spread thin, and they are exhausted. 

Ensuring that all team members are on the same page and that all questions are answered are essential components for successful delegation in nursing. 

Training and continuing education 

Protocols, procedures, and regulations are always changing. It is the responsibility of everyone on the healthcare team to stay up to date on these changes. 

Continuing education programs might offer courses on how to better lead a nursing team, which can ultimately improve your delegation in nursing skills. 

Building rapport with team 

Whether it is having more casual conversations while on break and getting to know your colleagues, hosting a team bonding night once a month, or simply going for coffee, building rapport is vital for effective delegation in nursing. 

There must be trust and respect for a team to be successful. 

You all share a goal of wanting to provide the best care to patients in hopes of getting the best outcome. 

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