Dear God, Delegation!!

[KeechieSan]

blahh

[rn2bn07, BSN, RN]

I will soon graduate in May, so I am not a nurse yet. But I am a nurse tech a local hospital and I work with two other tech on the midnight shift. I will say that as a tech, I respect all the nurses I ever had to work with because they treat all of the techs with respect and we feel like we are part of the team. When the nurses are on their breaks, or even talking about something interesting they will include us and we are all friends. And I feel that the nurses are comfortable delegating with us because of the relationship they have developed with us. Unlike some nurses, who may tend to talk and treat techs with no respect, I have not experienced that here.

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

I work nights and our entire shift works together as a team. I am just as likely to help another nurse giving a baby a bath or something as a tech (as long as I have time). I think this atmosphere makes me comfortable asking for help. I am a new nurse too. I only ask for help if I really need it and I always say thank you.

[kiszi, RN]

Please and thank you go a long way, i've found.

Most of the CNA's I work with don't mind getting vitals, in fact I do think it helps them feel part of the team b/c they're being trusted to recognize and report if something isn't wnl. This becomes particularly valuable in LTC, where there are 40 residents to one nurse on my shift.

I, too was a little nervous about delegating at first. I'll just tell you what I did to help. At first, I just tried to get to know the CNA's a little bit, asked questions about how things usually were run on the floor, etc. to build some rapport and respect. Then I would try to ask for stuff in a direct way, but with some leeway, such as "would you please get these vitals when you have a minute?" so they know you understand they're busy, too.

Oh, yeah, the more you do for them, the more they'll be willing to do for you. Just little things like filling a pitcher or toileting someone can make a difference. I'm sure you do these things anyway.

It won't come all at once. Building respect and trust takes time. But soon you'll find that blend of respect and authority that will serve you well when things need done.

Me, I'm still learning. Most of the time, I'm comfortable with delegating and supervising, but there's one particular older CNA at my job that's so wise and experienced, I still get nervous when I have to ask her for something!

[marysville]

I am finishing up my precept and have one more paper to write on delegating to licensed and unlicensed personnel. Papers are my worse nightmare. I just cannot get this going any advise?

[sofaraway04]

i hear you on this one, I am working as an RN with HCA's who have lots of expereince and been on the ward for years. I have found the best thing is to at the start of the shift make a plan with them about how we will manage the workload. eg. you bedbath mrs S and I'll do mr T, and we'll then meet up to do mrs R together.

also showing that you are willing to 'muck in' and do the jobs that tend to be seen as HCA jobs if you can. eg answering call bell, gettign commodes and walking pateints to the toilet. personally I see this as part fo my job anyway but some nurses will just sit at the desk and let the bells ring until a HCA becomes free.