Assignment Description
Delegation in Practice
What does your State Board of Nursing say about Unlicensed Assistive Personnel and their role, and the role of the Registered Nurse? Describe the responsibilities of the Registered Nurse when delegating patient care tasks.
How does the ICU environment differ from a general medical-surgical unit as far as assigned responsibilities for Unlicensed Assistive Personnel?
Assignment Expectations:
Length: 750 to 1000 words
Structure: Include a title page and reference page in APA format. These do not count towards the minimum word count for this assignment. Your essay must include an introduction and a conclusion.
References: Use appropriate APA style in-text citations and references for all resources utilized to answer the questions. Please include at least one reference in addition to the textbook.
Rubric: This assignment uses a rubric for scoring. Please review it as part of your assignment preparation and again prior to submission to ensure you have addressed its criteria at the highest level.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Delegation is an important aspect of nursing practice that involves assigning specific responsibilities to nurses or unlicensed assistive personnel. The State Board of Nursing plays a crucial role in regulating delegation practices in different healthcare settings. In this assignment, we will explore the role and responsibilities of unlicensed assistive personnel and registered nurses in delegation processes, as well as the differences between the ICU environment and general medical-surgical units regarding assigned responsibilities for unlicensed assistive personnel.
Answer to Question 1:
Each State Board of Nursing has its own guidelines regarding the role of unlicensed assistive personnel and registered nurses in patient care tasks delegation. Unlicensed assistive personnel are usually responsible for tasks that do not require specialized training or critical thinking, such as taking vital signs, performing ADLs, and assisting with meal delivery. In contrast, registered nurses are responsible for delegating tasks based on their assessment of the patient’s needs, capacities and the abilities of the unlicensed assistive personnel. They are also responsible for supervising and evaluating the outcome of the delegated task to ensure they are performed safely and effectively.
Answer to Question 2:
The ICU environment differs significantly from the general medical-surgical unit when it comes to the assigned responsibilities for unlicensed assistive personnel. In the ICU setting, unlicensed assistive personnel are delegated tasks that require more advanced training and skills such as maintaining the hemodynamic system, performing tracheostomy care, and removing drains and lines. The reason for this is because ICU patients are more critically ill and require more specialized care. Thus, the delegation process in such an environment requires a higher level of competency in delegation and a comprehensive understanding of the skills and capabilities of the unlicensed assistive personnel.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, delegation is crucial in nursing practice as it allows registered nurses to manage their workload while ensuring that patients receive the care they need. The role of unlicensed assistive personnel and registered nurses in delegation varies depending on the guidance of the State Board of Nursing and the setting in which it occurs. It is essential to understand the responsibility of each delegation process and ensure that it is in line with nursing standards and guidelines.
