What does "delegation" mean in nursing practice?

In nursing practice, delegation refers to the process of assigning specific tasks to other healthcare team members while retaining overall responsibility for patient care. This means that a nurse can direct other qualified individuals, such as nursing assistants or licensed practical nurses, to carry out certain duties that fall within their scope of practice. However, the nurse maintains ultimate accountability for the patient’s care and the outcomes of the delegated tasks.

This process is crucial as it allows for effective management of patient care, ensuring that tasks are completed by appropriately skilled team members while also allowing the nurse to focus on more complex aspects of patient care that require their expertise. By retaining responsibility, the nurse ensures that there is a chain of accountability which is essential for maintaining the safety and quality of patient care.

The other options provided differ in significant ways: prioritizing involves determining the order of tasks based on urgency and does not involve delegation; transferring responsibility to another nurse would imply relinquishing all accountability for patient outcomes, which does not align with the principles of delegation; and consulting with patients prior to assigning tasks does not encompass the administrative and clinical aspects of delegation in nursing practice.