Nursing Prioritization Delegation Assignment Q 67
Paige is a nurse preceptor who is working with a new nurse, Joyce. She notes that Joyce is reluctant to delegate tasks to members of the care team. Paige recognizes that this reluctance is most likely due to:
A. Role modeling behaviors of the preceptor
B. The philosophy of the new nurse's school of nursing
C. The orientation provided to the new nurse
D. Lack of trust in the members of the healthcare team
Correct Answer: D. Lack of trust in the members of the healthcare team.
Lack of trust is the common reason for reluctance in a delegation of tasks. Some managers don’t delegate because they feel they can work better than others. Since ultimate responsibility is of the delegator, they prefer doing the work themselves rather than getting it done through others.
Option A: Proper and appropriate assignments facilitate quality care. Improper and inappropriate assignments can lead to poor quality of care, disappointing outcomes of care, the jeopardization of client safety, and even legal consequences.
Option B: Staff members differ in terms of their knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies. A staff member who has just graduated as a certified nursing assistant and a newly graduated registered nurse cannot be expected to perform patient care tasks at the same level of proficiency, skill and competency as an experienced nursing assistant or registered nurse.
Option C: Validated and documented competencies must also be considered prior to assignment of patient care. No aspect of care can be assigned or delegated to another nursing staff member unless this staff member has documented evidence that they are deemed competent by a registered nurse to do so.