Conclusion
Delegation is a complex professional skill requiring sophisticated clinical judgment and final accountability for patients' care. Effective delegation is based on one's state nurse practice act; it serves to maximize patient care resources. Concepts of responsibility, accountability, and authority are integral to each RN's understanding of professional nursing practice, which includes properly assuming authority for the decisions and outcomes associated with patient care, sharing the process of patient care with other responsible members of the nursing team, and holding all members of the nursing team accountable for their responsibilities. Delegation requires RNs to use critical thinking skills in order to match staff expertise with patient and family needs. Staff relationships also influence the delegation potential and the delegation process. Three assignment scenarios are used in Work Complexity Assessment, namely unit based, pairing, and partnering, to determine the delegation potential for a specific patient care unit/service. Staffing schedules and consistent patient assignments that support pairing and partnering enable staff members to increase knowledge about each other and help to foster a strong sense of trust, thus increasing the delegation potential.
When RNs do not effectively delegate to others, quality of care can be lessened and valuable resources can be mismanaged. Resources will surely continue to shrink and care demands will surely continue to rise, thus increasing the risks of inappropriate delegation. Having clarity about what can be delegated helps to define quality professional practice not only for nurses but also for other team members, patients, and families.