Delegation Example in a Healthcare Setting free essay sample

Eletha Fields Delegation Example in a Healthcare Setting 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 â€Å"professional right and responsibility† requiring a â€Å"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 (Snyder et al, 2004). 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. 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). After the assessment cycle is complete, we are ready to proceed to the planning cycle. With the planning cycle, it is important to know what goals and outcomes need to be done and met. â€Å"As a practicing professional coordinating a plan of care, you are in the position to prioritize which outcomes are the most important to attain† (Hansten Jackson p. -6). Planning your patients’ tasks and goals will help to make the delegating and choosing the delegate a little easier. The third cycle is intervention. With intervention there are at least three points to consider. One, make sure to â€Å"prioritize and match the job to the delegate† (Hansten Jackson p. 6). Ensure that the task in within the caregiver’s scope of practice and that they have the knowledge and skills required to complete the task. Two, is to know how to communicate effectively with the delegate.Using clear and concise communication is important to ensure the task is carried out correctly. Clearly give the instructions to the caregiver and make sure they understand how to carry out the delegated tasks (Hansten Jackson p. 7). The third is to know conflict resolution. If the delegate is reluctant to do the desired task conflict may occur. Using assertiveness instead of aggression may help to resolve some conflicts (Hansten Jackson p. 4). The final cycle of the delegation model is evaluation. Evaluation and follow-up of the activity means that you oversee the performance and offer feedback to the delegate in terms of an appraisal of his or her performance† (Hansten Jackson p. 7). The licensed professional is responsible for the tasks that are delegated and needs to ensure they are completed and are correct. Following the delegation model of assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation will help registered nurses in their daily delegating duties. This will also help to reach the desired patient and staff outcomes. The registered nurse does the delegation in my workplace.We delegate tasks as the primary nurse to the unlicensed assistive personnel. As the charge nurse, we delegate tasks to other nurses along with the nursing assistants. To the staff nurses’ tasks and physician orders are delegated and to be carried out either by the nurse or the nursing assistant. The primary nurse can decide if the task can be delegated to the nursing assistants. As far as the nursing assistants, they can help with and direct and indirect patient care activities that are delegated to help free the primary nurse for other nursing duties to be completed that cannot. Such tasks for the nursing assistants include: vital signs, obtaining them, reporting them to the nurse, and recording them in the designated place; obtaining daily weights; connecting the telemetry monitor to the patients; measuring intake and output, and recording it in the chart; collecting specimens; helping with daily living activities such as baths, oral care, and changing the linens (Anthony Vidal, 2010). Many other tasks that the nursing assistants can do include feeding the patient; assisting in ambulation, turning and repositioning the patient. These are involved with the direct patient care.They are also able to help with indirect patient care that of which could include cleaning equipment, running errands, delivering supplies, stocking supplies, and some clerical tasks (Snyder et al, 2004). Many stakeholders involved with the care of the patients. The stakeholders are someone who has a vested interest in the care of the patients. These can include the physicians, the nur ses, and the nursing assistants. These professionals care about what happens to the patients and want the best care provided for them. Choosing the right stakeholder for the delegated task is important.It is necessary to make sure that the person who has been assigned the task is competent and skillful to complete the task accurately. Communication and information sharing between the nurse and the assistant is equally important (Anthony Vidal, 2010). Providing feedback to the assistant once the task is performed helps to keep communication between the two staff members. The plan of action for delegation should include communication with the nursing assistant, providing feedback to the assistant, and resolving any conflict that may occur, and evaluation of any problems.Communicating with the stakeholders is important. They need to know exactly what the task is for them to do and be able to complete it correctly. The registered nurse is responsible for the outcome no matter what it is. â€Å"Clearly outlining expectations, giving complete and concise directions for implementation, and providing parameters for following up with the nurse is essential ingredients to successful communication† (Hansten Jackson p. 7). Some tasks the nursing assistant may be reluctant to complete.This could cause some conflict between the nurse and the assistant. â€Å"Being able to be assertive without being aggressive when the response is not the eager and willing â€Å"yes† that we would like is also part of the skill of effective delegation† (Hansten Jackson p. 7). Maintaining open communication with the nursing assistant can help to bypass any conflicts that may occur. If you are not able to resolve the conflict between you and the assistant then going to you clinical manager may have to be another option of conflict resolution.Feedback to the nursing assistant is also important. They need to know if they have performed the tasks at hand correctly and to the satisfaction of the patient and the nurse. â€Å"Feedback and follow-up can be as simple as a thank you for a job well done† (Hansten Jackson p. 8). â€Å"Evaluation and follow-up of the activity means that you oversee the performance and offer feedback to the delegate in terms of an appraisal of his or her performance† (Hansten Jackson p. 7). Evaluation of the performance is also important for problem solving and problem resolution.In conclusion, as we practice health care together as a team, and the demands of the patients continue to rise, delegating to the nursing assistants direct and indirect patient care helps to allow the nurse to provide the nursing duties that cannot be delegated. Again, the delegation of patient care helps to improve patient outcomes and increases satisfaction for the patient and the nurse (Snyder et al, 2004). References Anthony, PhD, RN, CS, M. K. , Vidal, K. (2010 May). Mindful Communication: A Novel Approach to Improving Delegation and Increasing Patient Safety. Issues in Nursing, 15(2). http//search. proquest. om. ezproxy. apollolibrary. com/docview/763483465? accountid=35812. Hansten, R. I. Jackson, M. (2009). Clinical Delegation Skills: A Handbook for Professional Practice (4th ed. ). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. Reinhard, S. C. (2010 Winter). A Case for Nurse Delegation Explores a New Frontier in Consumer-Directed Care. Generations, 34(4). http://search. proquest. com. ezproxy. apollolibrary. com/docview/858458298? accountid=35812. Snyder, RN, MSN, CCRN, D. A. , Medina, RN, MS, J. S. , Bell, RN, MSN, L. Wavra, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS (2004). AACN Delegation Handbook (2nd ed. ).