Are LVNs allowed to delegate?

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Specializes in SICU.

Are LVNs in Texas allowed to delegate tasks to unlicensed personnel? I can't seem to find anything about this in the NPA, but maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

I would appreciate any help.

Thanks!

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

in texas no... if you look under the lvn section it is in there...

are lvns in texas allowed to delegate tasks to unlicensed personnel? i can't seem to find anything about this in the npa, but maybe i'm not looking hard enough.

i would appreciate any help.

thanks!

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Specializes in SICU.

Thanks! I saw something in there that said LVNs are allowed to assign tasks to UAPs, but just wanted to make sure. It doesn't seem like it is what happens in reality, especially in places like LTC facilities...

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

BON language is a little confusing - but one important issue is the difference between "assign" and "delegate".

Assign - does not include any tranfer of authority. It just means that you are dividing up the work among some people who are already qualified to perform that work.

Delegate - another can of worms. This means that the delegator (A) is asking the unlicensed delegatee (B) to perform certain activities, that are within A's scope of practice but not necessarily B's. A remains entirely responsible for both the process and outcome. A has to ensure that B is competent to perform the tasks, ensure adequate levels of supervision, etc.

"Unlicensed" just means that that particular task in question is outside the person's scope of practice. For instance, inserting a chest tube is way outside the RN scope, therefore, an RN is unlicensed for this task.

Clear as mud?

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