Delegation questions, help!

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I am having hard time answering delegation questions. Will you be able to give me some general rules that apply to this kind of questions?

Where I come from we have only one kind of nurses and we do all. So, I can not figure out what to delegate to the LPN and to the nursing assistant.:confused:

Thanx in advance!

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Many times the websites for the state boards of nursing have good information to help with delegation issues. Here is an example from the

Texas board site.

Delegation Frequently Asked Questions

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Specializes in Correctional RN.

If the task that you the Registered Nurse are going to delegate to the Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurse or unlicensed Nursing Assistant requires ASSESSMENT, then you the RN will retain the performance of that task for yourself.

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If the task that you the Registered Nurse are going to delegate to the Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurse or unlicensed Nursing Assistant requires ASSESSMENT, then you the RN will retain the performance of that task for yourself.

Thanx for the tip. What would you delegate to the Practical nurse that the nursing asistant would not do? I get many of those questions wrong...

So, assessment is only done by RN!

:rolleyes: I appreciate!

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This is what I have, but I don't know if it varies state to state. In the Saunders question and answer book I have been getting the answers correct when I give the stable patient to the LPN and using the following strategies.

Do not delegate the following to an LPN/LVN

Starting IV

hanging or mixing IV meds

IV push/piggybacks

these assessments:admission, discharge, transfer, when the patient has a change

LPN can't plan care

LPN can't do initial teaching

LPN can't take verbal order from doctor or transcribe order

Do not delegate the following to a UAP

charting on patient, no assessments except for vital signs and accuchecks, no meds except for topical OTC's, no treatment except for enemas, nothing that must be done aseptic.

What a UAP can do

ADLs, bathing and grooming, dressing, toileting, ambulating, feeding (unless there is something wrong that makes pt a risk for aspiration), bed making, respositioning, socializing with pt, speciman collection, I&Os, VS.

Do not delegate to family

safety responsibilities

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

the general guidelines of delegation are:

  • primary concern is to make sure that the patient is safe
  • you must know the job descriptions and abilities of the healthcare personnel and subordinates who you supervise
  • you must know facility policies and procedures
  • you must know your nurse practice act
  • you must delegate tasks to those who you know are capable of performing what you are assigning them to do
  • you base tasks that you delegate to others on your knowledge of the state nurse practice act, facility policies and facility job descriptions.
  • give directions for the task that are clear in order to avoid misunderstandings
  • give a deadline when you expect the task to be completed
  • ask the person to repeat back instructions to verify they have the directions correct if you suspect they do not understand what you are asking them to do
  • follow-up to make sure the task was completed correctly and by the deadline in order to evaluate the performance of the task (this is your supervision function)
  • provide praise when tasks are done well and within deadlines; provide feedback and criticism when necessary
  • assign same tasks to the same individuals if possible

remember that as the rn you are ultimately accountable, so if you fail to follow or do any of the above in a responsible way, you've failed in delegating a task correctly.

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Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.

I reccoment a book called: Prioritization, Delegation and Assignment by: Linda LaCharity. I swear its the best book ever. Its really cheap too, less than 20$. I read this book (actually its like a work book with questions and rationales) and It made those questions super easy! Good luck:)

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I reccoment a book called: Prioritization, Delegation and Assignment by: Linda LaCharity. I swear its the best book ever. Its really cheap too, less than 20$. I read this book (actually its like a work book with questions and rationales) and It made those questions super easy! Good luck:)

I looked for this at the bookstore I went to yesterday and they didn't have it. I plan on looking at another bookstore for it.

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I looked for this at the bookstore I went to yesterday and they didn't have it. I plan on looking at another bookstore for it.

Check amazon or half.com

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Thank you, all, for the input! I am planning to try all the tips you gave me. Hope I will make it.

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Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.

0323044077 is the ISBN number. I got mine at barnes and noble.

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I am having hard time answering delegation questions. Will you be able to give me some general rules that apply to this kind of questions?

Where I come from we have only one kind of nurses and we do all. So, I can not figure out what to delegate to the LPN and to the nursing assistant.:confused:

Thanx in advance!

Theres a book by Mosby called Prioritization,Delegation & Assignment. I used it while studying for my NCLEX-RN & was glad, b/c it really helped.

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