Final answer:
A novice nurse manager's hesitancy to delegate is likely due to fear of increased liability, as they feel personally responsible for their clients' welfare and fear the consequences of staff mistakes.
The novice nurse manager's hesitancy to delegate tasks to competent, experienced staff nurses is most likely explained by a fear of increased liability. This fear often stems from a sense of personal responsibility for clients, where the nurse manager worries that any mistakes made by staff could lead to serious consequences for which they may be held accountable. However, it's important for nurse managers to overcome this hesitancy, as not delegating can lead to work overload for themselves and may contribute to inefficient operations within the healthcare facility.