DELEGATION EXAMPLE IN A HEALTHCARE SETTING

Delegation Example in a Healthcare Setting

Delegation Example in a Healthcare Setting

Introduction

Delegation in the health care setting is very important for the nurses, unlicensed assistive personnel, and for the patients. The delegation of indirect and direct patient care allows the Registered Nurse (RN) to spend more time toward the patient care, education, and patient advocacy. This delegation of patient care helps to improve patient outcomes and increases satisfaction for the patient and the nurse (Snyder, Medina, Bell, & Wavra 2004). “Nurse Delegation is considered a “professional right and responsibility” requiring a “skill that must be taught and practiced for nurses to be proficient in using it.” Nurses need both the authority and practice experience to implement delegation” (Reinhard p. 76). Effective delegation can allow the registered nurses to make their best contribution to patients and to the health care system. This delegation presentation will show the delegation model, delegation in my workplace, the stakeholders and their roles. Also it will include a plan of action that incorporates communication, conflict resolution, providing feedback, and evaluation of the problems and tasks performed.

Delegation Example in a Healthcare setting

The delegation model is composed of four cycles. These are assessment, planning, intervening, and evaluation. To start with is the assessment phase of the model, which implies that we, as registered nurses, must assesses the situation, select the right delegate to perform the task, ensure the delegate is competent for the task they are delegated. Also it is important to know the policies and procedure of the place you are employed and to know the job description and expectations of the person of which you are delegating tasks to (Hansten & Jackson p. 3-4).

The Right Stake Holder for the Job

The implications of appropriate delegation of nursing tasks for school nurses center around four major themes: development of school policies, competence in the five rights of delegation, education, and building relationships. Each of these themes will be discussed below (Dransfield, 1997).

School nurses need to work with their administrators, whether in a school or any healthcare setting, to establish policies and procedures regarding delegation in an effort to offer safe, quality care to all. School nurses play a critical role in the development of such policies due to their knowledge and expertise regarding health-related needs and the delivery of healthcare. Policy development provides an opportunity for the school nurse to educate administrators, board members, and parents about the legal, regulatory, and educational requirements of delegation. The steps of policy development and implementation include: defining the issue or problem, gathering the necessary information to inform the problem/issue at hand, proposing recommendations, debating and discussing the recommendations with a broad group of stakeholders, finalizing and adopting the recommendations, providing oversight to ensure implementation, and assuring ongoing evaluation of the policy (Dransfield, 1997).

Communication with the Stake Holders

Understanding the Five Rights of Delegation communication outlined by NCSBN (1995) is essential for the school nurse to gain confidence and expertise in making sound decisions regarding delegation of nursing tasks to ...