A registered nurse (RN) is working with a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) on a medical-surgical unit. Which task assignment demonstrates appropriate delegation according to scope of practice and safety principles?

Effective delegation requires matching patient needs with staff competency. The Five Rights of Delegation provide a framework for safe practice.

• Right Task: Assign routine, standardized tasks with predictable outcomes (e.g., vital signs for stable patients) to UAPs. Reserve complex assessments and care planning for the RN.
• Right Circumstance: Evaluate patient stability before delegating. A postoperative patient with stable vitals is appropriate for UAP monitoring; a newly admitted patient with multiple comorbidities requires RN assessment.
• Right Person: Verify the delegatee's training, competency, and legal scope. UAPs cannot administer medications; LPNs cannot perform initial assessments or develop care plans independently.
• Right Direction/Communication: Provide clear, specific instructions including frequency, parameters for reporting, and expected timeframes. Document the delegation.
• Right Supervision/Evaluation: The RN retains ultimate accountability. Monitor task completion, interpret collected data (e.g., vital signs), and intervene as needed. Follow-up is a non-delegable RN responsibility.

Remember: You can delegate the task, but you cannot delegate the accountability for the patient's overall care and clinical judgment.