Final answer:
Workload allocation is the correct answer, where the charge nurse assigns specific patients or tasks to nurses based on factors like patient acuity and nurse expertise, ensuring efficiency and preventing overburden.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the student's question is c) Workload allocation. Workload allocation is a method of distributing a unit's workload, where the charge nurse determines which nurses are assigned specific patients or tasks during a shift, taking into account the acuity of patients, the skill set of nurses, and the overall staffing level. It is vital to ensure that patient care is managed efficiently and that nurses do not become overburdened.
For instance, in a hospital setting, the charge nurse might assign less experienced nurses to care for patients with more routine needs while allocating patients with complex or critical conditions to more experienced nurses. This type of allocation helps to balance the demands of patient care with the abilities of the nursing staff.