Do Rn's have to make sure lpn's are competent if delegating a task?

[smartnurse1982]

Does an Rn have to make sure an lpn is competent if a non supervisor Rn delegates a task that is within the Lpn's scope of practice?

I know the Rn's have to make sure UAP's are competent,but my state isnt clear on whether Rn's have to make sure lpn's are competent before delegating a task.

While i know Rn's are not responsible if an lpn makes an error,someone made a great point: Its a licensed nurse(RN) delegating to another licensed nurse(lpn).

He said its the lpn's responsibility to seek out help.

This is not a troll post,and i get conflicting information when looking at past threads on this subject.

[JBudd, MSN]

My understanding is that if you delegate a task to someone, you are reasonable confident that they are qualified and able to do the task. You cannot delegate a task to someone out of their scope or abilities.

[smartnurse1982]

My understanding is that if you delegate a task to someone, you are reasonable confident that they are qualified and able to do the task. You cannot delegate a task to someone out of their scope or abilities.

True,except its one nurse(Rn) to another nurse(lpn).

[klone, MSN, RN]

As long as you're delegating something that is within the LPNs scope of practice, I think it's assumed that the LPN should be competent in the tasks that they are legally allowed to do. It is up to the LPN to ask for help if they are being asked to do something that they do not feel comfortable doing.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

As long as you're delegating something that is within the LPNs scope of practice, I think it's assumed that the LPN should be competent in the tasks that they are legally allowed to do. It is up to the LPN to ask for help if they are being asked to do something that they do not feel comfortable doing.

This.

Knowing the scope of practice for your state for RNs and LPNs and the difference is a great start; a better position is to ask the nurse you are delaying to whether they have performed the task before.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Initial nursing staff competence is the responsibility of the employer to determine during the orientation phase (60-90 days) along with periodic evals (usually yearly) so one can assume an established nurse on the unit can be assigned tasks that are part of their job description. New healthcare procedures introduced responsibility of Manager to ensure staff competent to perform along with completing mandatory education. Non nurses can provided management supervision; I report to a Director with business MBA can tell me how to perform business tasks to run my department but not my acceptance/declining verbal orders. Individual nurses are held to standard of reporting colleagues who violate facility policies + nurse practice act to immediate supervisor/manager. If you know a nurse is not competent to perform unit specific nursing care: new grad or float from OB assigned to assist oncology unit, a charge RN would be held accountable for delegating care to inexperienced staff.

NCSBN and ANA have delegation joint statement that may help you

[h=3]Joint Statement on Delegation - National Council of State[/h]

[h=3]Delegation Decision-making Tree[/h][h=3]Is it OK to delegate? | The American Nurse[/h]