Grohar-Murray TIF
Chapter 8: Delegation: The Manager’s Tool
Learning Objective 1:
Describe how delegation facilitates the efficient use of resources.
1. Which statement indicates that successful learning has taken place at a “how to” course on
successful delegation?
1. “Delegation has no benefit on our unit, since our clients are frequently admitted
and then discharged so quickly.”
2. “I never knew I could actually save time for myself and save organizational
resources by thoughtfully delegating tasks to others.”
3. “I just don’t understand how people think delegation is not a benefit to everyone;
all you have to do is tell other people what to do.”
4. “I never knew delegation only required me to tell others what to do, and by when
to have it completed.”
2. Which situation indicates inappropriate use of delegation?
1. The nurse manager triages clients coming into the Emergency Department.
2. The charge nurse asks the nursing assistant to obtain a complete set of vital signs.
3. The nursing supervisor asks a nurse manager to lead a task force on improving
quality.
4. The nurse asks a nursing assistant to assist in admitting a client by setting up the
room.
Nursing Process: Implementation
Client Need: Safe, Effective Care Environment
Cognitive Level: Application
3. The novice nurse manager is hesitant to delegate tasks to competent, experienced nurses.
Which most likely explains this hesitancy? Fear of:
1. Overburdening staffing resources
2. Decreased personal satisfaction
3. Competition and criticism
4. Increased organizational liability
4. Which statements would be most important for the charge nurse to make when delegating a
responsibility? Select all that apply.
1. “I chose you to attend the meeting because it seems as though you have the
lightest assignment.”
2. “I have assigned you to be the unit’s representative because I don’t have enough
time to go.”
3. “I think it would be important to our organization if you represented the unit on
the Policy and Procedure Committee.”
4. “I think your attendance at the task force meeting will be a good reflection on our
unit.”
5. “I would like you to be the unit’s representative on the client education task force
committee.”
5. Which effect indicates the most important reason that effective delegation is essential for
nurses to practice and master?
1. Greater confidence in skills
2. Increased time for other tasks
3. Increased client satisfaction
4. Increased job satisfaction
6. Which statement made by a new nurse manager is an example of the first step of effective
delegation?
1. “The outcomes of this project will be evaluated by nursing administration in 6
months.”
2. “I am going to delegate the responsibility of creating the vacation schedule.”
3. “I will monitor your progress throughout the project and give you feedback.”
4. “I will designate a person with good time-management skills to be the delegate for
this task.”
Learning Objective 3:
Discuss at least five common barriers to delegation.
7. The nursing supervisor states, “I really don’t have the time to delegate this assignment to a
nurse manager. I can do it faster!” What does this statement suggest?
1. The nursing supervisor’s job description needs to be redefined.
2. The process of delegation is too time-consuming.
3. The nurse supervisor does not have time to delegate.
4. There is a lack of confidence in the staff.
8. A nurse asks an unlicensed assistant to help with discharging clients, since so many are going
home at one time. The nurse states, “Can you help get these clients ready to go home by helping
them pack?” Which option best describes the statement with regard to effective delegation?
1. The delegation is ineffective because the nurse has no authority to ask the
unlicensed assistant to help with client discharge.
2. Delegation could have been more effective had the nurse gone with the assistant
to ensure that the assistant did the packing as requested.
3. The delegation is ineffective, since the nurse has no responsibility to pack the
client’s belongings.
4. Delegation would have been more effective had the nurse been more specific
about which clients needed help and when the task should be completed.
9. The nursing supervisor is assessing the organization by spending time on each unit. The nurse
manager seems overwhelmed and stressed trying to address many client complaints. The charge
nurse is trying to help everyone at once. What might this supervisor conclude based on this
assessment? Select all that apply.
1. The unit culture fosters distrust and poor communication among staff.
2. The unit has had several call-ins, or is short-staffed.
3. Delegation is seen as too time-consuming to undertake.
4. The nurse manager is inexperienced, and needs time to adjust.
5. Nurses on the unit are in need of additional training and skills.
Learning Objective 4:
Identify the legal issues related to the process of delegation.
10. Which situations cause concerns with liability with regard to delegation? Select all that
apply.
1. The nurse asks the LPN to assess a central line dressing for her.
2. The supervisor asks the charge nurse to give a nurse a difficult assignment.
3. The nursing supervisor asks the nurse to discuss a client’s history with the
supervisor.
4. The nursing assistant asks a nurse to check on a client’s status.
5. The nurse asks a nursing assistant to assist another nursing assistant to obtain vital
signs.
11. For the nurse to effectively and legally delegate, which of the following must be consulted
and followed to reduce the likelihood of liability?
1. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing “Rights”
2. The American Nurses Association By-Laws
3. The rules of the governing specialty organization
4. The regulations of the state nurse practice acts
12. If the nurse needs to delegate a task in order to work on another nursing responsibility,
which characteristic must be present? Select all that apply.
1. Authority by the delegator to assign the task to the delegate
2. Accountability for the assignment on the part of the delegator
3. Responsibility for task completion on the part of the delegate
4. Accountability for the assignment on the part of the delegate
5. Authority of the delegate to accomplish the task as assigned
Learning Objective 5:
Assess the delegation process in the clinical setting where unlicensed assistive personnel work
with licensed registered nurses.
13. If the nurse is planning to delegate a task to the nursing assistant, prioritize the nurse’s
actions in the correct order of the delegation process.
1. Allows the nursing assistant to decide how best to complete the task.
2. Sets goals and expected outcome of the task to be completed.
3. Asks the nursing assistant to describe the goals and expected outcomes of the
task.
4. Evaluates the task completed by the nursing assistant.
5. Describes the goals and expected outcome clearly to the nursing assistant.
14. Which delegated task should the charge nurse working on a unit with team nursing question?
1. The nurse asked the nursing assistant to assist the client out of bed when the client
asked to go to the bathroom.
2. The nursing assistant is asked to fill the water pitchers for all clients on the unit.
3. The unit secretary is asked to take a client to Radiology after the orders are put
into the computer.
4. The nurse who is on the phone with a health care provider asked the unit secretary
to take a message from another provider calling with client orders.
15. The nurse pours the medication ordered for the client. The nurse asks the nurse assistant to
give the medication when the client receives breakfast. Of which concept is this an example?
1. Ineffective delegation
2. Negligence
3. Vicarious liability
4. Decentralization
