As a nurse manager I will sensitize Laura on the potency of team work in the nursing profession. Laura must completely understand that when nurses function as a team then nursing duty becomes simple, effective and efficient. Consequently, the patient receives quality health care services due to the mentioned team work. I will bring together all the staff and make them understand that hospital can only attain the set goals and objectives through valuing each other services and embracing team work.
Profession nurse has myriad responsibility in delegation of the duties to both UAP and LPN. The RN must first evaluate the patient and determines the right activity; the right activity is then delegated to a specific member of the health care team (ANA, 2010). Secondly, the RN must evaluate the UAP and LPN who has the right knowledge and skills in the areas which the task needs extra assistance. Thirdly, the RN should explicitly communicate categorically on what, how and on the deadline of the delegated duties.
There are several factors that need consideration before delegation of nursing duty. Potential for harm is a factor that enables the RN to fathom the risk that a delegated duty carries. Secondly, unpredictability of patient outcome is another imperative factor, when there is unclear certainty on how the patient will respond to the delegated activity (ANA, 2010). Thirdly, Complexity of the task is another factor of consideration, the more the task is complex the less need for delegation. Fourthly, if the delegated duty requires problem solving and innovative skills then its delegation needs a consideration.
Prevalently, there is an explicit distinct between delegation and assignment. Delegation connotes to the transfer of obligation for the performance of an activity or duty from one person to another whilst retaining account ability for the outcomes. On the other hand, assignment refers to the method of distribution or rather allocation of patient-care activities among the nursing personnel.
The fact is the nurse manager bears legal obligation in supervising duties of UAPs. To be specific, the nurse manger is liable for the outcome in the delegated or assigned duty. To avert the mentioned liability, the nurse manager must, therefore, provide an explicitly direction on the task that needs UAP performance. Secondly, the nurse manager should know the training and qualifications of the UAPs that he/she supervises. Similarly, the nurse manager should the right person, basing his/her choice on the competency and patient’s condition.
Reference
American Nurses Association. (2010). Developing Delegation Skills. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 15, n.p.
