by Woman_in_love

Hi everyone!
I wanted to know who's responsibility it's gonna be when RN delegates care to a nursing assistant or LPN and the mistake in care happens.
I remember that there is some type of delegation when RN is responsible and some type when the LPN/CNA will be held responsible.
Can anyone explain this to me please?
I guess those things do show up in NCLEX-RN, so i better know them
Thanks

Shick always goes UP the ladder after it's been delegated down the ladder, so the RN is still going to catch hell.

Then in which cases the LPN or assistant will be responsible? Or such thing doesnt exist at all?

If the patient is the LPN's patient, the LPN is held responsible. RNs cover LPNs for certain iv meds that need to be given to the LPNs assigned patients, but that's where it ends.

Originally Posted by Woman_in_love

Then in which cases the LPN or assistant will be responsible? Or such thing doesnt exist at all?

If something is delegated to the LPN and/or CNA, the RN will always be responsible. If the LPN and/or CNA make the "mistake" independently, the RN is still responsible. However, there are degrees of liability. The law will decide who is ultimately liable and if there are injuries, etc. and who is ultimately responsible for those injuries.

This issue can be debated many ways, but, the RN has authority over the LPN and/or CNA and the physician, over the RN.

Siri, CRNP, CLNC, RLNC

Delegating

Just a reminder. The RN cant delegate assessment, nursing judgement, or education. This will help you when answering your questions. They delegate tasks that have expected outcomes and standard procedures.