Question

Which situation is an example of reverse delegation?

A. The nurse manager asks the staff nurse to attend an in-service on a new product.
B. The nursing supervisor asks the nurse manager to attend a meeting with the physicians.
C. The licensed practical nurse asks the nurse manager to administer insulin to her client.
D. The staff nurse asks the licensed practical nurse to record intake and output in his client's charts.

Answer 1

Reverse delegation occurs when a lower-ranking staff member asks a higher-ranking one to complete a task. In healthcare, this is seen when a licensed practical nurse asks a nurse manager to administer medication like insulin.

Step-by-step explanation:

An example of reverse delegation occurs when a subordinate asks a superior to perform a task that is normally within the subordinate's scope of responsibilities. This often happens due to a lack of experience or qualifications required to complete the task. In the context of healthcare, reverse delegation can be illustrated by the following scenario:

C. The licensed practical nurse asks the nurse manager to administer insulin to her client.

This is an instance of reverse delegation because administering medication would typically be a task for a licensed practical nurse. However, if the LPN feels unqualified for the task, they may delegate it upwards to the nurse manager, who possesses a higher level of authority and expertise.