Current Best Practices for Nursing

Current Best Practices for Nursing Delegation What is appropriate delegation? Appropriate delegation is an essential skill for all registered nurses in order to properly designate care to those in need. Delegation consists of several duties including proper planning for delegation, supervision, and recurrent follow-ups and analysis to ensure delegated nurses are continuing accurate care of their patient(s) (Corazzini et al., 2010). According to various studies, registered nurses and nursing leaders require training and education to utilize viable strategies in order for proper delegation to take place. It is extremely important that quality education takes place in regards to delegation because in the practice of nursing, people's lives are in the hands of the delegated nurses. When the correct techniques are taught and distributed from registered nurses to those who are delegated, the quality of life has been shown to increase in patients (Corazzini et al., 2010). How can nurses delegate aspects of care according to role, functions, capabilities and learning needs? Because each nurse in training has different learning abilities, requirements, and skills, registered nurses must be sure to put their utmost attention forward when delegating. Therefore, it is necessary that delegation is specific and conducive to each nurse-in-training's way of learning in order for them to provide the best care possible for their patients (Corazzini et al., 2010). Research has not found a preferred method of instruction, meaning registered nurses can allocate their knowledge to trainees either verbally or through written communication if nursing time constraints do not allow for in personal contact (Corazzini et al., 2010). The issue of reluctance often arises when it comes to delegation which needs to be quickly resolved. If registered nurses are unenthusiastic about delegating and teaching resident nurses, the quality of information the residents receive will not be optimal for patient care and have been known to lead to problems. How can nurses monitor aspects of care delegated to others and provide clarification/assistance as required? The most important aspects in providing assistance and clarification to nurses in training are persistence and care. Resident nurses certainly require practice independent of the registered nurse that delegated them in order to gain confidence and esteem in their skill of taking care of their patients. However, if registered nurses lose contact and do not maintain observance of resident nurses, residents may unknowingly me completing tasks incorrectly or performing procedures inaccurately. Therefore, registered nurses who have recently performed delegation should check up on their residents routinely with a set schedule. During the time of "check in" with the resident, they can be sure to clarify and assist the resident in any way necessary. How can nurses recognize their own accountabilities and responsibilities when delegating aspects of care to others? It is a difficult task for nurse to understand precisely what to do in the delegation process as there are many conflicting guidelines and opinions on the subject. The only sure way for registered nurses to properly fulfill their responsibilities of delegation, is to maintain a relationship with the nurses they delegated and be available for them when necessary. At the same time, nurses need to be sure to give trainees space in order for them to learn independently. Patience, observance, and guidance are the techniques essential to registered nurses attempting to provide quality delegation. How can nurses delegate and supervise others consistent with legislation and organizational policy? In order to delegate and supervise their trainees, registered nurses need to strictly comply with the current legislation and organizational policies existing in their place of work. That being said, as previously stated, there are a plethora of conflicting views as to what is considered optimal delegation which may lead to confusion for registered nurses designated to delegate. The best a nurse can do is follow all protocol and policy in place to the best of their ability. Discuss National Framework for the Development of Decision Making Tools for Nursing and Midwifery Practice and the Nursing Practice Decisions Summary Guide in relation to appropriate delegation. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council stresses that registered nurses are responsible for determining who the most well-trained individual for each task is.(Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2007). Thus, there are several factors the council recommends to all nurses in a delegating position. Registered nurses themselves should take time to assess their patients needs before they relinquish their patient to a resident. A trainee's skill, knowledge, and competence should be assessed in the areas in which they will have to provide care. Moreover, the trainee needs to have confidence that they can perform the given activity effectively and comprehends the amount of responsibility assigned to them during each specific task. Because some tasks require more time and effort than others, registered nurses need to delegate accordingly to how much time they have to actively observe and check in on their trainees.