Deck 9: Delegation in Nursing

Question 1

When the licensed nurse makes a determination to delegate a task, which of the following occurs in the process? (Select all that apply.)

A) The nurse assesses the situation and need for delegation.
B) A plan for specific task delegation is established.
C) The needs of the nurse are considered.
D) The nurse determines the available resources and patient safety.
E) Accountability is transferred to the manager.

Answer 1

The nurse assesses the situation and need for delegation.
A plan for specific task delegation is established.
The nurse determines the available resources and patient safety.

Question 2

Which staff member should be assigned to a dying client who is experiencing symptoms of emotional distress?

A) UAP who can be spared to sit with the client
B) LPN/LVN who has grown attached to the family
C) RN who has experience as a hospice nurse
D) Newly graduated RN

Answer 2

RN who has experience as a hospice nurse

Question 3

Which of the following colleagues would a nurse typically delegate to in the health care setting? (Select all that apply.)

A) Nurse apprentices
B) Personal care attendants
C) Family members at bedside
D) Physicians
E) Nursing assistants

Answer 3

Nurse apprentices
Personal care attendants
Nursing assistants

Question 4

According to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, there are five factors that a nurse should assess when making a decision to delegate nursing tasks. These factors are assessing the potential for harm, the complexity of the task, the amount of problem solving and innovation required, the unpredictability of the outcome, and the:

A) amount of time that the task will take.
B) degree of comfort the delegatee has with the task.
C) level of patient interaction.
D) method of measuring outcomes.

Question 5

If an error occurs as a result of delegation, the nurse is accountable for supervision, follow-up, intervention, and:

A) corrective action of the event.
B) documentation of the event.
C) evaluation of the process.
D) summation of the occurrence.

Question 6

Being answerable to oneself and others for one's own choices, decisions, and actions as measured against a standard is:

A) accountability.
B) authority.
C) supervision.
D) delegation.

Question 7

The five rights of delegation are right task, right circumstance, right person, right direction and communication, and right:

A) interaction.
B) outcome.
C) supervision.
D) time.

Question 8

With regard to delegation, what organizational principles are considered? (Select all that apply.)

A) Legal guidelines and policies
B) Patient safety and accountability
C) Relationship management and patient support
D) Cost containment
E) Knowledge and education

Question 9

The nurse manager determines that communication style is contributing to problems with delegation on her unit. What tool is used to teach principles of communication, leadership, situation monitoring, and mutual support?

A) American Nurses Association (ANA)
B) Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHRQ)
C) Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS)
D) Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

Question 10

The nurse has asked a nurse's aide to greet a postoperative patient who has just arrived on the unit and to determine whether he is in stable condition. This act of delegation is an example of a nurse inappropriately delegating:

A) assessment of the patient.
B) evaluation of an intervention.
C) nursing judgment.
D) teaching to a delegate.

Question 11

Delegating requires clear and skillful _____ to avoid liability.

A) negotiation
B) communication
C) corrective action
D) planning

Question 12

The process for a nurse to direct another person to perform nursing tasks and activities is:

A) authorization.
B) delegation.
C) empowerment.
D) supervision.

Question 13

If a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) provides discharge teaching, who is ultimately responsible?

A) Chief executive officer
B) Institution where the LPN/LVN works
C) Risk manager
D) UAP

Question 14

Who is ultimately accountable for the appropriateness and supervision of the delegated task?

A) The nurse who delegated the task
B) The UAP who accepted the task
C) The nursing manager
D) The hospital CEO

Question 15

Individuals who are trained to help the registered nurse (RN) in the provision of patient-client care activities as delegated by and under the supervision of the RN are known as:

A) certified assistive personnel.
B) health care assistive personnel.
C) medical assistive personnel.
D) unlicensed assistive personnel.

Question 16

When making a decision to delegate a nursing task, which of the following factors are assessed? (Select all that apply.)

A) Potential for harm
B) Complexity of the task
C) Amount of problem solving required
D) Predictability of the outcome
E) Level of patient interaction

Question 17

When considering whether to delegate a task, the nurse needs to assess the patient and:

A) how many nurses are available to supervise.
B) how complex the delegated action is.
C) the severity level of the patient population.
D) the expiration date of the license.

Question 18

The charge nurse is making assignments on a surgical unit. Which client should be assigned to the least experienced nurse?

A) Client who had a vaginal hysterectomy and still has an indwelling catheter
B) Client who had an open cholecystectomy and has gray drainage in the T-tube drainage tube and bag
C) Client who had a hip replacement and stated that something popped while walking
D) Client who had a Whipple procedure and is reporting being thirsty all the time

Question 19

When determining that delegation of an element of patient care needs to occur, the nurse delegates with a clear, concise description of the task, including its objectives, limits, and expectations. The nurse allows the delegate to clarify without fear of repercussion. Which of the following five rights of delegation is being demonstrated?

A) Right task
B) Right circumstance
C) Right person
D) Right direction/communication
E) Right supervision/evaluation

Question 20

The provision of guidance or direction, evaluation, and follow-up by the licensed nurse for accomplishment of a nursing task delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) is:

A) authorization.
B) delegation.
C) observation.
D) supervision.

Question 21

Leadership style may be a significant barrier to effective delegation. Which of the following describes the "invincible" style? (Select all that apply.)

A) Prefers to do everything themselves so as not to transfer control.
B) Wants to be everyone's friend.
C) Comes across as a pushover.
D) Often stays late to complete documentation.
E) Micromanages the UAP.

Question 22

The process of delegation may be undermined in the health care setting as one member of the team moves work in a downward direction. What are some of the reasons for delegatees to resist responsibility? (Select all that apply.)

A) Lack of ability to direct
B) Fear of criticism for mistakes
C) Overwhelming workload
D) Lack of confidence
E) Lack of resources

Question 23

The legal and ethical standards to consider when questioning if delegation is appropriate include: (Select all that apply.)

A) accountability
B) good faith
C) cost efficiency
D) reasonable
E) prudent

Question 24

Which principles are important to consider when an RN delegates tasks to UAP? (Select all that apply.)

A) Tasks are delegated that will challenge the UAP to use critical thinking.
B) Assess the condition and stability of the patient.
C) Delegate tasks that are within the expertise of the RN, particularly if the UAP is a student.
D) Evaluate the complexity of the task.
E) Determine the potential for harm to the patient.

Question 25

A unit manager is utilizing her staff as a resource for educational presentations. An RN in her unit has been requested to create a PowerPoint on delegation and supervision. What resources should she include for staff to obtain additional information on delegation and supervision? (Select all that apply.)

A) State nurse practice act
B) Organization's policies and procedures
C) The Joint Commission (TJC)
D) American Nurses Association (ANA)
E) Board of Registered Nursing

Question 26

Which of the following are the responsibilities of the delegatee in a situation? (Select all that apply.)

A) Corrective action
B) Own acts
C) Accepting the delegation
D) Appropriate notification and reporting
E) Accomplishing the task