Delegation of Tasks to Assistive Personnel

Definition/Etiology:

• Delegation – “Delegation generally involves assignment of the performance of activities or tasks related to patient care to unlicensed assistive personnel while retaining accountability for the outcome.”
• “The transfer of responsibility for the performance of a task from one individual to another while retaining accountability for the outcome”

Pathophysiology:

• You cannot delegate the nursing process
  • Don’t delegate what you “EAT” Evaluate, Assess, Teach)

Nursing Process:

• Assessment
• Diagnosis
• Outcomes/Planning
• Implementation
• Evaluation

Clinical Presentation:

5 Rights of Delegation:

• Right person
• Right task
• Right circumstance
• Right direction/communication
• Right supervision/evaluation

Collaborative Management:

• Assisting the client with their activities of daily living such as ambulation, dressing, grooming, bathing and hygiene
• Measuring and recording fluid intake and output
• Measuring and recording vital signs, height and weight
• Observation and reporting changes in and the current status of the patient’s condition and reactions to care
• The transport of clients and specimens and other errands and tasks such as stocking supplies
• Assistance with transfers, feeding, ambulation, and other tasks such as making beds and assisting with bowel and bladder functions

Evaluation | Patient Monitoring | Education:

• Ensure task was appropriate for UAP
• Monitor for completion of the task
• Assess any abnormal findings

Linchpins: (Key Points)

• Don’t delegate the nursing process
• The nurse is responsible for the delegated task.
• Think task!