Question 1

A health care organization has provided intensive education to staff regarding benefits and correct methods of delegation. Why has the organization spent the time and money to sponsor these sessions?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A health care organization has provided intensive...

Question 2

A staff nurse asks the nurse manager, "What assignment are you delegating to me today? I would like to begin to organize my day before shift report begins." What is the error inherent in this statement?

Accepted Answer

1. Organization takes many forms and is different for every nurse. Some nurses may use the time prior to shift report to organize.
2. Depending on the structure of the unit, assignments may be made by the charge nurse or the nurse manager.
3. Assignment is a bureaucratic function that reflects job descriptions and client or organizational needs. Daily work allotment from nurse manager to staff nurse is an assignment, not delegation.
4. Team assignments occur prior to shift report. In some institutions, all nurses working on the unit listen to shift report on all clients. In other institutions, the nurse receives report only on the assigned team.

Question 3

A nurse manager is delegating a new, complex task to the unit secretary. Which strategies should the manager use?

Accepted Answer

When delegating a new, complex task, it is important for the nurse manager to use strategies that promote clear understanding and accountability. Making eye contact with the secretary can help to ensure that the information is received and understood. Talking in person rather than through other mediums can also help to ensure that there is clear communication. Finally, discussing the importance of the task to the organization can help to emphasize the significance of completing the task accurately and in a timely manner. Choice A may come across as insincere and Choice D may cause confusion and potentially lead to miscommunication.

Question 4

A newly licensed nurse is concerned about the legal aspects of delegation. What is the most important question for the nurse to consider prior to delegating a task?

Accepted Answer

The most important question for a nurse to consider prior to delegating a task is whether the task involves nursing judgment. Tasks that require nursing judgment cannot be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) or other healthcare personnel who are not qualified to make nursing judgments. Tasks that do not require nursing judgment, such as feeding or transferring a patient, may be delegated to UAP as long as facility policies and procedures allow for it and the UAP has been trained and is competent to perform the task. The other options do not address the crucial consideration of nursing judgment.

Question 5

The nursing supervisor would like to delegate an information-gathering task. All the people listed have the ability to perform the task. In general, whom should the supervisor ask to do this work?

Accepted Answer

1. The rule of thumb is to ask the lowest person in the hierarchy who has the requisite capabilities.
2. The rule of thumb is to ask the lowest person in the hierarchy who has the requisite capabilities.
3. The rule of thumb is to ask the lowest person in the hierarchy who has the requisite capabilities.
4. The rule of thumb is to ask the lowest person in the hierarchy who has the requisite capabilities.

Question 6

Which situations are examples of the nurse directing rather than delegating?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which situations are examples of the nurse...

Question 7

During the first staff meeting, a newly promoted nurse manager says, "I would like a commitment from all the nurses to review and improve the way delegation is done on the unit." Why would the manager be interested in delegation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of During the first staff meeting, a newly...

Question 8

The nurse supervisor would like to delegate accreditation preparation activities to the nurse manager. The manager is unsure of what is expected and has no experience with accreditation. How should the manager respond?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse supervisor would like to delegate...

Question 9

Which situations are examples of ineffective delegation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which situations are examples of ineffective delegation?
...

Question 10

A nurse says, "I am always worried that I will be liable if someone I delegate a task to does something that hurts the client." What is the manager's best response to this concern?

Accepted Answer

The best response is D because it reassures the nurse that if they follow the five rights of delegation (Right task, Right circumstances, Right person, Right communication, and Right supervision), their liability is minimal. This response also provides practical guidance for the nurse to reduce their liability. Option A is not helpful and may increase the nurse's anxiety. Option B is only partially helpful because it assumes that the job description outlines all aspects of liability. Option C is not accurate because trying to do everything yourself can lead to burnout and errors, but it does not necessarily increase liability.

Quiz 10: Delegating Successfully