Question

Which situations are examples of ineffective delegation?

A. After delegating committee attendance to a staff nurse, the nurse manager also attends the meetings.
B. The unit clerk asks the nurse manager to "listen for the phones" so the clerk can go to the hospital's celebration of hospital week.
C. The nurse manager asks the staff nurse to collect information about a new type of hospital bed being considered for purchase.
D. The staff nurse asks the UAP to provide simple discharge instructions to a client.
E. The staff nurse often bathes clients because "I like to give bed baths."

Answer 1

Examples of ineffective delegation include a nurse manager attending meetings after delegation, a staff nurse not delegating enjoyable tasks like bed baths, and a UAP being asked to provide discharge instructions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ineffective delegation in a healthcare setting can undermine team efficiency and compromise patient care. Examples of this include situations where:

• A nurse manager attends meetings they have already delegated to a staff nurse. This duplicates work and sends mixed signals about trust and authority.
• A staff nurse performs tasks they enjoy, such as giving bed baths, that could be delegated, thereby reducing their availability for tasks requiring their higher skill level.
• A UAP (Unlicensed Assistive Personnel) is asked to provide discharge instructions, a task that is outside their scope of practice and could lead to misinformation and legal issues.

Effective delegation is crucial for a well-functioning healthcare team and can prevent situations such as the one experienced by Tyre, a nursing assistant facing a lack of autonomy, respect, and support in their work environment.