Delegation and Leadership
The nurse manager appointed a registered nurse (RN) to provide hospice care for a client and explained the tasks to be performed. Which tasks has the nurse manager delegated to the RN? Select all that apply. 1 Providing total client care 2 Performing all the hygiene tasks 3 Teaching the client and family members 4 Teaching the client about personal hygiene 5 Assisting the client in performing daily activities
Providing total client care Performing all the hygiene tasks Assisting the client in performing daily activities The registered nurse provides total client care, teaches the family about the client's care, and teaches the client about personal hygiene. The registered nurse may not perform all the hygienic tasks and daily activities. These tasks are delegated to the unlicensed assistive personnel.
The nurse says to the licensed practical nurse (LPN), "I know that you can accomplish the task with dedication. Report to me the expected outcomes and approach me for further assistance if needed." Which relationship is the nurse maintaining with the LPN? 1 Telling 2 Selling 3 Delegating 4 Participating
Delegating The statements, "I know that you can responsibly accomplish the task with dedication. Report to me the expected outcomes and approach me for further assistance if needed," indicate delegation. Delegation involves an established relationship and expertise with little guidance. Telling requires intensive guidance for a delegatee with limited knowledge and ability to perform the task. Selling requires explanation of the new task that is to be delegated. Participation requires involvement of both the delegator and delegatee to create mutual expectations and conditions for performance.
The registered nurse (RN) is communicating with a healthcare team regarding the delegation of tasks. Which factors can determine the quality of communication between the RN and healthcare team? Select all that apply. 1 Accuracy 2 Effectiveness 3 Responsiveness 4 Meaningfulness 5 Understandability
Effectiveness Meaningfulness Understandability Effectiveness is a factor that determines the quality of the communication in delivering the appropriate information. The communication should be meaningful to improve the quality of the information. The communication should be understood by all the team members to perform a task properly. Accuracy of the assigned task can be known only after the result. Response to the communication reveals the ability of the healthcare team to understand the task.
Which behavior of the nurse leader is characterized as delegating according to the Hersey's model? 1 Guiding or directing 2 Observing or monitoring 3 Explaining or persuading 4 Encouraging or problem solving
Observing or monitoring Observing or monitoring behavior of the leader is characterized as delegating according to Hersey's model. Guiding or directing behavior of the leader is characterized as telling according to Hersey's model. Explaining or persuading behavior of the leader is characterized as selling according to Hersey's model. Encouraging or problem solving behavior of the leader is characterized as selling according to Hersey's model.
The registered nurse is delegating tasks for the care of a vulnerable population. Which healthcare team would be appropriate for the delegation of tasks? 1 Charge nurse (CN), chief nursing officer (CNO), and registered nurse (RN) 2 Licensed practical nurse (LPN), unlicensed nursing professional (UNP), and charge nurse (CN) 3 Chief nursing officer (CNO), Registered nurse (RN), and unlicensed nursing professional (UNP) 4 Registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), and unlicensed nursing professional (UNP)
Registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), and unlicensed nursing professional (UNP)
A registered nurse is caring for a client according to the total client care model of nursing. Which activity performed by the nurse manager would be appropriate in this situation? Select all that apply. 1 Providing care to group of clients 2 Providing care to clients in ambulatory clinics 3 Delegating tasks to licensed practical nurse (LPN) 4 Weighing the expenses of a registered nurse (RN) vs. LPNs 5 Deciding the type of care provided by nursing assistive personnel
Weighing the expenses of a registered nurse vs LPN Deciding the type of care provided by nursing assistive personnel Weighing the expenses of RNs versus LPNs and unlicensed assistive personnel (UNP) are performed by the nurse manager in the total client care model of nursing. Providing care to the group of clients is the responsibility of a direct care nurse in the functional nursing model. Providing care to a client in an ambulatory clinic is the responsibility of the nurse manger in the functional nursing model. Delegating a task to an LPN is not the responsibility of the nurse manager; it is the responsibility of the RN.
Which activity performed by the registered nurse (RN) indicates following the "participating" leadership style in Hersey's model? 1 Delegating the work to the delegatee 2 Evaluating the ability of the delegatee 3 Providing little guidance to the delegatee 4 Establishing mutual expectations with the delegatee
Establishing mutual expectations with the delegatee The participating style of leader behavior indicates establishing mutual expectation and conditions of performance when the relationship between the delegatee and the delegator is relatively new. Delegating the work to the delegatee indicates that the delegator is performing the delegating style of leadership. Evaluating the ability of the delegatee is done when the delegator wants to know about the work to be assigned to the delegatee. The delegator provides little guidance when the delegator knows that the delegatee is willing and familiar enough to perform the task.
A delegator, working in collaboration with a delegatee, allots responsibilities and explains the various procedures and techniques needed to accomplish the task. Which action is the delegator performing, according to the Hersey model? 1 Guiding and directing 2 Observing or monitoring 3 Explaining and persuading 4 Encouraging or problem solving
Explaining and persuading Hersey's model describes the leader's behavior as explaining or persuading, which is characterized as "selling." In this situation, the delegator is assigning the work to the delegatee and explaining the various procedures and techniques to accomplish the specified task. A leader's behavior described as guiding or directing is characterized as "telling," in which the delegate simply assigns the task to the delegatee. The leader's behavior of observing or monitoring is characterized as "delegating," in which the delegator is responsible and accountable for the entire task. A leader's behavior that is encouraging or problem solving is characterized as "participating," in which the delegator establishes a working environment in which to complete the task in the specified time.
Which questions should the nurse consider to assess and ensure delegation to the right person? Select all that apply. 1 Is the prospective delegatee a willing and able employee? 2 Does the delegatee understand the directions and expected results of the task? 3 Does the delegatee understand how, what, and when to report to the delegator? 4 Is it clear that the delegatee will provide feedback related to the task when appropriate? 5 Does the delegatee have the knowledge and experience to perform the specific task safely?
Is the prospective delegates a willing and able employee? Does the delegate have the knowledge and experience to perform the specific task safely? The right delegatee is chosen on the basis of the person's willingness and ability. The nurse should assess the knowledge and experience of the prospective delegatee to perform the specific task safely and fulfill the expected outcomes. Right direction and documentation are assessed by the delegatee's ability to understand the directions and expected results of the task. It can also be assessed on the basis of the delegatee's understanding of how, what, and when to report to the delegator. The right supervision is providing feedback to the delegatee, related to the task, when appropriate.
A client is on a nasogastric tube. Which healthcare team member is suitable to provide medications to the client through the nasogastric tube? 1 Charge nurse 2 Nursing manager 3 Licensed practical nurse 4 Unlicensed assistive personnel
Licensed practical nurse The licensed practical nurse (LPN) is suitable to provide medications to the client through the nasogastric tube because the LPN has sufficient knowledge to provide medications through the tube. The charge nurse may not be available to provide medications to the clients because the charge nurses have other responsibilities. Nursing managers do not provide medications; rather they delegate tasks to the registered nurses and other healthcare team members. Unlicensed assistive personnel are not eligible to provide medications to clients through the nasogastric tube.
Which actions in the delegation process represent accountability? Select all that apply. 1 Monitoring client care 2 Seeking the outcome report 3 Assessing the ability of the delegatee 4 Providing honest feedback to the delegatee 5 Assisting registered nurses with delegation decisions
Monitoring client care Seeking the outcome report Monitoring client care and seeking the outcome report represents accountability of the task in case of conflicts. Assessing the ability of the delegatee and educating about the task indicates responsibility. Providing open and honest feedback to the delegatee improves work performance and client care outcomes. The nurse can assist other registered nurses with delegation decisions regarding safety issues, urgency to intervene, or potential negative client outcomes.
The registered nurse assigns a task to a newly hired licensed practical nurse (LPN) to monitor a client's blood pressure. Which is relevant to the delegator in this situation? 1 Requires explanation 2 Requires little guidance 3 Requires more guidance 4 Requires creating mutual expectations
Requires more guidance When the task is assigned to a newly hired LPN, the registered nurse should provide more guidance to the LPN. The LPN requires explanation when there is an ongoing process and the task is already assigned. The LPN requires little guidance when the LPN has expertise in work and performs in a correct way. The delegator and the delegatee should have mutual expectations when there is ability and willingness but the relationship is new.
The registered nurse (RN) assigns an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to obtain and record the body temperature of a client with a fever. After completing the task, the delegator evaluates the work and gets clear feedback from the delegatee related to the task. Which delegation right is followed in this situation? 1 Right person 2 Right supervision 3 Right circumstance 4 Right Communication
Right supervision Right supervision is followed by the delegator in this situation. After completing the task, the delegatee gives the feedback related to the task. Right person is the right followed when the specific task is given and the delegate has the knowledge to complete the task safely. Right circumstance is the right followed when the delegatee has the appropriate supervision to complete the task. Right communication is followed when the delegator and the delegatee understand the common working language.
An emergency department consists of five nurses who take care of 30 clients. Which responsibility of the registered nurse is most helpful in overcoming this overwhelming situation? 1 Task behavior 2 Span of control 3 Sharing activities 4 Situational leadership
Span of control The registered nurse has to handle five nurses who take care of 30 clients, meaning that each nurse will be caring for six clients. Managing 30 clients in stable condition is easy; whereas, managing clients in critical condition requires span of control to make the overwhelming situation less challenging. The nursing staff should render a portion of the care to reduce the client care workload. Task behavior is the amount of guidance given to an individual in a specific situation. The delegator shares activities among the individuals to ensure quality client care outcomes. Situational leadership is the ability to diagnose the performance, competence, and commitment of others to be flexible and efficient in performing an activity.
The nurse with limited clinical experience is preparing a delegation communication template. Which action by the nurse indicates the need for correction? 1 Identifying the priorities 2 Specifying the performance limitations 3 Emphasizing what may not be delegated 4 Specifying that no extra time is allotted to report data
Specifying that no extra time is allotted to report data A delegation communication template is used for the delegation of tasks. It is beneficial to provide greater positive outcomes within specified dates. The template should contain the report time frames and when data is expected. It should specify deadlines, including the allowable deviations and exact timelines. Identifying priorities aids in overcoming challenging and overwhelming situations. Specifying the performance limitations aids in tracking and managing the task updates. It is important to make the delegatee understand what is to be delegated and what is not to be discussed to produce expected data.
Which statement is true regarding the framework of delegation related to the Hersey's Situational Leadership Model? Select all that apply. 1 Single factor influences the effectiveness of a leader 2 Ability relates to the individual's attitude and commitment 3 Willingness relates to the individual's attitude towards the task 4 Ability to diagnose performance is a core competency of a situational leader
Willingness relates to the individual's attitude towards the task Ability to diagnose performance is a core competency of a situational leader Hersey's Situational Leadership Model serves as a foundation for delegation decision making. Willingness is the individual's attitude and commitment towards the task. The ability to diagnose the performance and commitment of others is a core competency of Hersey's Situational Leadership Model. Multiple factors such as assessment of personality characteristics and readiness level of an individual influence the effectiveness of a leader. Willingness, not ability, relates to attitude and commitment. Willingness and ability are the two factors that are assessed when determining the level of follower's readiness.
The nurse is assisting the registered nurse with delegation decisions regarding management of a client with shortness of breath. Which action by the nurse indicates a need for correction? 1 Asking questions about the client's respiratory rate 2 Asking the client to perform breathing exercises regularly 3 Administering oxygen to the client with shortness of breath 4 Providing constructive feedback about client care management
Providing constructive feedback about client care management The nurse may not provide constructive feedback about the client care management during delegation decisions. The nurse may, however, provide constructive feedback to the delegatee to maximize the efficiency of the client care. The nurse may assist other registered nurses with delegation decisions by using three strategies: asking, offering, and doing. Asking involves inquiring about the client care problems and issues such as the respiratory rate. Offering involves suggesting ways to achieve desirable client care outcomes, such as asking the client to perform breathing exercises regularly. Doing involves demonstrating the specific task to improve client care—for instance, administering oxygen to the client.
The nurse is delegating someone to care for a client with diabetes mellitus. Which instruction given by the nurse better explains the selling relationship with the delegatee? 1 "Record the client's blood glucose level each morning." 2 "You may approach me for further assistance and questions. Thank you." 3 "I will guide and assist you while you learn how to check the client's blood glucose." 4 "You will take complete care of the client with diabetes and make sure to record the blood glucose level.
You will take complete care of the client with diabetes and make sure to record the blood glucose level Selling includes ongoing relationships with an explanation of the delegated new task. This is better explained in the statement, "You have to take complete care of the client with diabetes and make sure that you record the blood glucose level." Telling is ordering the delegate to record the client's blood glucose level each morning. Delegation, involving established relationships and expertise, is better explained by, "You may approach me for further assistance and questions. Thank you." Participation is mutual involvement to accomplish the task. It is better explained by the statement, "I will guide and assist you while you learn how to check the client's blood glucose."
