Delegating task

[mynhii]

I'm doing clinical practice for my CNA program, and I realize that it is easier to follow guidance than actually guide someone. I have finished my prerequisites for nursing and am ready to apply for Fall 2012. What concerns me is supervision task. To be an RN, I have to be able to delegate tasks to LVNs and CNAs, don't I? Can I still be a nurse without supervising anyone? I'm always better at following orders than teaching people. It's stressful enough to follow the charge nurse's orders properly. I really don't want added stress of monitoring other people's work.

[kakamegamama]

As a RN you are responsible for delegation of tasks that you know the person to whom you are delegating is competent in performing. Yes, it is stressful, but after being on the job a while, it's less so (at least it was in my cases). Right now, everything is new to you. Give yourself some time, and you may find that you feel differently. I remember once, as a new manager, struggling with some of the issues of delegation. My mentor and supervisor told me that I had to make a decision, that if I was to be a manager, I needed to step through that door and never backward. That comment was just what I needed, and delegation became much less intimidating. Hang in there & the best to you in school!!!

[mama_d, BSN, RN]

Delegating isn't that difficult IMO...

Think about it this way...do you have anyone you share your life with now? Then you're probably already delegating and don't even realize it. Telling boyfriend/hubby/dad "Hey, my car's making a funny noise, would you mind taking it around the block and see what you think?"...or "Mom's doing dishes, please get your brother a snack"...or "Would you mind grabbing me a gallon of milk while you're at the store?"...all are delegating tasks, to people who are in the position to do them.

It'll come naturally. Although there is a way to do it...you don't bark orders unless you want to meet resistance generally speaking. "Get that finger stick" comes across a lot worse than "The new admit is a diabetic, could you grab a fingerstick for me?" even though both convey the same meaning.

By the time you get through your program and have been working for a while it's likely that you'll wonder why you were ever so stressed about it in the first place. There's so much about nursing that makes us fret and worry that actually ends up being not such a big deal when you finally get there.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I'm doing clinical practice for my CNA program, and I realize that it is easier to follow guidance than actually guide someone. I have finished my prerequisites for nursing and am ready to apply for Fall 2012. What concerns me is supervision task. To be an RN, I have to be able to delegate tasks to LPNs and CNAs, don't I? Can I still be a nurse without supervising anyone? I'm always better at following orders than teaching people. It's stressful enough to follow the charge nurse's orders properly. I really don't want added stress of monitoring other people's work.

Well, no you can't. As nurses we work with many additional personnel that assist in the care of a patient. The Board of Nursing in your state will have it's practice guidelines for delegation. This is an example of such a document. http://www.dora.state.co.us/nursing/scope/ScopeofPracticeInfo.pdf

With education and experience it becomes easier to delegate and prioritize care. There will be things that only you can do and things only an LPN can do and things the aid can do. It's all about priority in doing what you need to do and knowing what someone else can do for you. Always be respectful, list tasks to be done but never "bark" orders and remember it take a team to care for a patient. ONce your learn what is your absolute responsibility it becomes clearer on what you are able to delegate.

Good Luck in school!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Being a delegator does not mean you have to be a dictator. The law wants you to be in charge of patient care with the goal being positive patient outcomes. You cannot do it all yourself, and won't want to, so think of it as allowing others to help. Focus on the patient and you will come to see the value in having one person be a supervisor. Also, you are allowing someone else to earn an income if you are not doing everything yourself. Plus, as you gain experience you will feel more comfortable in this role.

[NursErin07]

Delegation definately becomes easier when you are a busy RN with 15 things demanding your attention at once! It's as simple as telling the CNA to get your VS for you on a patient or just asking them to get something to help you. You will learn in nursing school what you can delegate and who it can be delegated to. Do not freak out about it right now - you still have time to learn all this! But remember, delegation is not just telling someone else what to do, it is also following up timely to make sure it was done and done properly. Good luck, you will do great!

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Delegating isn't that difficult IMO...

Think about it this way...do you have anyone you share your life with now? Then you're probably already delegating and don't even realize it. Telling boyfriend/hubby/dad "Hey, my car's making a funny noise, would you mind taking it around the block and see what you think?"...or "Mom's doing dishes, please get your brother a snack"...or "Would you mind grabbing me a gallon of milk while you're at the store?"...all are delegating tasks, to people who are in the position to do them.

It'll come naturally. Although there is a way to do it...you don't bark orders unless you want to meet resistance generally speaking. "Get that finger stick" comes across a lot worse than "The new admit is a diabetic, could you grab a fingerstick for me?" even though both convey the same meaning.

By the time you get through your program and have been working for a while it's likely that you'll wonder why you were ever so stressed about it in the first place. There's so much about nursing that makes us fret and worry that actually ends up being not such a big deal when you finally get there.

Yep, don't get RN-itis. Ask nicely and delegated tasks gets done without a battle.

[Dazglue, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I thought I would have a problem with delegation. It was something I hated doing while in nursing school because we only had 1-2 pt's. But trust me, when you are on the floor slammed, it'll come naturally without ANY hesistation!!!

[mynhii]

I really appreciate everyone's advice. I always know that I'm not a natural leader. I have a cousin who studies cognitive science although he wants to be a doctor. He's like my mom, a good role model in leadership. Unfortunately, I don't have that gene in me. My mom said that herself. She told me that my leadership skill is not as good as my cousin, and she couldn't be more right. I'm not a naturally assertive person.

I'm very interested in oncology, and I hope to become a clinical nurse specialist in that field. However, perhaps it will be better for me to be a physician assistant because I know that I can only look for guidance if I don't have a solution.

[pockunit, ADN, RN]

Unless you're a superhero who can do everything all by your lonesome, you already delegate. And as a CNS, you'll have to do it then, too. As was already mentioned, you delegate already, you probably just don't see it as such. But if you stop and look at your week, you'll see how many times you handed a job off to someone else because you knew they could do it. Asking someone to do a job they're capable of doing because you have another job YOU need to do is a kind of leadership. If you're expecting to become some sort of nationally recognized leadership specialist, well, that's probably not going to happen. But if you are expecting to become a leader of a team on the onco floor, why do you think you can't do that? You have your job to do, other people on the team have their jobs to do, and it's your job to remind/urge/coach/demand that they do so. I guarantee you already do this in your life.

Also, I'm not sure it's helpful to you to have your mother pointing out what she sees as weaknesses, when you clearly have strengths you can build on. I'm sure she is trying to help, but I get the feeling you're already feeling like you're "bad" at this and she's kind of adding fuel to the fire, no?

[Sparrowhawk]

Everyone delegates....RN's, LPN's..heck even CNA's delgate on a level when they ask for assist from a nother aide...we all delegate..we just dont think about it.

[mynhii]

Unless you're a superhero who can do everything all by your lonesome, you already delegate. And as a CNS, you'll have to do it then, too. As was already mentioned, you delegate already, you probably just don't see it as such. But if you stop and look at your week, you'll see how many times you handed a job off to someone else because you knew they could do it. Asking someone to do a job they're capable of doing because you have another job YOU need to do is a kind of leadership. If you're expecting to become some sort of nationally recognized leadership specialist, well, that's probably not going to happen. But if you are expecting to become a leader of a team on the onco floor, why do you think you can't do that? You have your job to do, other people on the team have their jobs to do, and it's your job to remind/urge/coach/demand that they do so. I guarantee you already do this in your life.

Also, I'm not sure it's helpful to you to have your mother pointing out what she sees as weaknesses, when you clearly have strengths you can build on. I'm sure she is trying to help, but I get the feeling you're already feeling like you're "bad" at this and she's kind of adding fuel to the fire, no?

Oh no, my mom is not adding fuel to the fire. My family is Vietnamese. Unlike Americans, Vietnamese people are not used to giving positive comments all the time. Especially my mom is a direct, straight-to-the-point person. She doesn't like giving fake compliments. She speaks what she sees. I was a math tutor 3 years ago. Although students usually liked me, it always took me longer time to get through them compared to my peers. My peer tutors were able to help students understand certain concepts faster than I did. I thought it was because of my English, but it was actually the same even when I spoke my birth language. I tend to confuse my parents first before I can make them understand some English words or grammar structures. My cousin is often able to get them understand instantly.

In my CNA class, when I tried to explain to my classmates how to weigh a person, measure his/her height, do conversion for I&O, I ended up confusing them more. I guess it was because they didn't have math skill to understand measurement lines. They eventually understood, but it wasn't easy.

I know that a clinical nurse specialist has to delegates tasks, so I'm considering physician assistant route. Physician assistants don't have to supervise any health care personnel, do they? Correct me if I'm wrong