TOPIC 1
Delegation is one of the essential talents every nurse should have. It consists of designating the execution of assignments related to patient care to another staff member while maintaining responsibility for the outcome. When a nurse is delegating a task, they must consider the five rights of delegation as a handbook to define the necessary pieces of the delegation process: right individual, proper assignment, right circumstance, the correct information, and communications and adequate supervision (Murray, 2017).
When concerning safe and quality patient care, it is necessary to understand that it requires considerable time, and all tasks demand 100% of your attention. Delegating can help nurses save significant time and use their spare time in the most effective ways possible. However, it is essential to charge correctly; we must always consider the patient’s safety. As mentioned, the nurse should assign the task to the right person. For example, a nurse can delegate a change of linen or assistance with eating to a nursing assistant. Yet, we can only trust the starting and IV or help with admission to another nurse.
Moreover, assigning the right task according to the scope of practice is essential. We must also consider the circumstances since the status of some patients won’t be favourable for delegating tasks. It is the nurse leader’s responsibility to assess the condition and necessities of the patients in her care department.
Effective communication is another essential key to ensuring we accurately deliver the information to complete the task. We must tell the task’s description, the time to meet it, the priority, and how to do it, ensuring the person comprehends all the transmission. Finally, we should follow up and supervise the delegee who did the task correctly. Following these steps when delegating is the best way to guarantee the patients’ safety (Bittner & Gravlin, 2009).
For a negotiation is necessary at least a two-way approach. One part will always differ, but both will probably share a common interest in finding a solution. The nurse leader or manager must be transparent and explain what the other side expects to avoid misunderstanding. The most crucial factor for negotiation will be communication. For this, the transmission must show respect and clarity. The leader must debate what must happen and the possible outcomes using straightforward language(Apker et al., 2005). Concerning cost-effectiveness, some studies show how using nurse specialists as central caregivers caused a reduction in expenses per quality-adjusted life-year gained compared to standard care. According to this study, nurses provided equivalent care to doctors (Arts et al., 2011).
Delegation is a complicated process that demands nursing wisdom, determination, and final responsibility for patient care. I believe it is necessary to be aware of the consequences and the risks associated with delegation to prevent them. But at the same time, I think knowing when to delegate and how to do it correctly is crucial. Effective delegation is vital for patient care because it releases the nurse to more specialized tasks that make nursing assessments.