Delegating As A New Nurse
ANSWERS
Delegation is essential in nursing because it ensures accountability while assigning tasks to staff members. Often, the person delegated to complete a task has other responsibilities, and the delegated task is outside of their everyday responsibilities. There are some procedures to follow when delegating in nursing. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) defines five delegation rights:
Correct task: The delegated task falls within the individual’s job description of understanding the expectations.
The patient with whom the delegate works are in stable condition and is not prone to fluctuations in their health or physical state.
Suitable person: When delegating tasks, a nurse ensures that the delegate has the necessary knowledge and skills.
Correct guidance and communication: To assist the individual in understanding their task, the nurse provides explicit instructions and expectations and answers questions about any procedures.
Correct supervision and evaluation: The nurse assigned the task remains available to supervise and correct as needed to ensure a desirable outcome.
What are the advantages of delegating in nursing?
Delegation can help nurses manage their many responsibilities more effectively. It is a way to make their caseload more manageable while ensuring patients get the care they require. When used correctly, delegation can save nurses time while also providing other benefits such as:
- Delegate skill development
- allowing nurses to concentrate on more complex tasks
- Developing strong working relationships and encouraging teamwork
- promoting the most efficient use of personnel
- Improving the satisfaction of residents and their families
- Identifying talent in other employees
Tips for Improving Nursing Delegation Skills
Here are some pointers to help you improve your nursing delegation skills:
Be willing to relinquish some control: In order to delegate some of your tasks, you must be willing to relinquish some of your control. You can still monitor the task’s progress, but you may need to be less hands-on as the individual performs the task for you.
Match skills to tasks: Get to know your team members so you can identify their strengths and weaknesses. This can be useful when deciding to whom to delegate a task to assign it to the right person. Consider factors such as education, skill set, and license status when delegating tasks.
Consider potential problems before delegating: Consider potential problems that may arise when transferring responsibilities to someone, such as a lack of confidence in performing the task. Prepare for these challenges by devising strategies to overcome them.
Set attainable goals:
Communicate the task’s goal to the person to whom you are delegating your assignment. This helps them understand their goals and what you expect from them. Consider creating timelines or setting deadlines to assist the delegate in staying on track.
Delegate responsibilities somewhat:
- Be fair when deciding whom to delegate your assignment to.
- Try to delegate to different employees rather than the same person every time.
- Consider the tasks you delegate and avoid repeating unpleasant tasks, such as bathing patients.
Consider delegation throughout your shift: If you notice you cannot complete a specific task, find someone to delegate the task to. Delegate as much as possible throughout your shift to increase the number of delegations.
Be thankful and respectful: Thank those who completed your assigned tasks. Respecting those who assist you can help build a positive relationship and lead to future success in the delegation.
Improve your critical thinking skills: Because delegation and critical thinking go hand in hand, it is beneficial to work on your critical thinking skills. Thinking through complex situations can help you make better decisions when delegating and solving problems.
Practice patience: Because delegation frequently requires employees to perform an unfamiliar task, it may take time for them to understand how to do it correctly. Be patient as the individual develops their skills and knowledge throughout the process.
Provide advice and affirmation: Because the delegate may be performing a task outside their everyday responsibilities, it is beneficial to provide advice on how to succeed. Provide them with any resources or training they require to succeed in their job duties, and instruct the delegate to notify you if a problem arises while performing the task.
Learn by doing: Use experimental learning to improve your delegation skills. As you gain more experience with delegation, you may become more comfortable delegating tasks to others and learn what works best for you.
Evaluate the delegate’s performance: After the delegate has completed the task, review how they performed and how the patient responded to their assistance. Consider any future opportunities for improvement when evaluating.
QUESTION
Delegating As A New Nurse
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