Posted: January 7th, 2023

Delegation is an important nursing skill

Delegation is an important nursing skill that needs to be utilized to ensure quality patient care that involves good, effective communication and entrusting staff to make decisions based on their judgment, but it needs to be done properly (National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation, 2019). The delegation process is when decisions are made regarding support from staff qualified to perform delegating task
(National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation, 2019). It is important for the nurse to assess the abilities and skills of the staff member before delegating tasks to them (National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation, 2019). The nurse is responsible for the overall care of the patient and must ensure that the delegated task is within the scope of practice for the staff member and that it does not compromise the safety of the patient (National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation, 2019).

Effective communication is essential in the delegation process. The nurse must clearly communicate the task to be delegated, the reason for delegation, and any necessary instructions or guidance (National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation, 2019). The nurse should also provide support and supervision to the staff member as needed (National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation, 2019).

Delegation can improve patient outcomes and increase the efficiency of the healthcare team by allowing nurses to focus on higher-level tasks and responsibilities (National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation, 2019). It also allows for the development of skills and autonomy among the staff members (National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation, 2019). However, it is important for the nurse to retain ultimate responsibility for the care of the patient and to provide oversight and supervision to ensure the safe and effective completion of the delegated tasks (National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation, 2019).

In summary, delegation is a valuable nursing skill that involves effective communication and the proper entrusting of tasks to qualified staff members. It can improve patient outcomes and increase the efficiency of the healthcare team, but it is important for the nurse to retain ultimate responsibility and provide oversight and supervision to ensure the safe and effective completion of the delegated tasks.

References:
National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation (2019). Retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/nursing-delegation.htm

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