CORRECT ANSWERS|LATEST
Delegation - ANSWER · Reassigning of responsibility for the performance of a
job from one person to another
o Direct- usually is verbal direction, RN decides which staff member can perform a
specific task
o Indirect- contained in approved listing of tasks established by an institution;
permitted tasks mat vary from institution to institution (ex: vital signs, blood sugar
checks as an aid)
Delegation vs. Supervision - ANSWER - Supervision is usually more direct than
delegation
- Requires directly overseeing the work and performance of others and includes
checking in with individuals during the day
- May entail delegation of tasks and activities (nursing manager performs both)
Vicarious Liability, Respondent Superior - ANSWER · Healthcare organizations are
responsible for the acts of its employees
· Failure to delegate/supervise within acceptable standards may be considered
malpractice
Considerations for Delegation - ANSWER · Predictability of outcome= if patient's
response to an activity cannot be known with some certainty it should not be
delegation
· Potential for harm= how much risk is involved to the patient due to this task
· Complexity of task= the greater the complexity of this task the less likely it should
be delegated
· Need for assessment/problem solving= if the problem involves a high degree of
problem solving it should be done by the RN
,· Level of patient interaction= don't delegate activities that will interfere with the
nurse/patient relationship
· Cannot delegate= nursing process (think ADPIE), education, tasks that require clinical
judgement/assessment
Understanding the Role of the LPN - ANSWER · Care for stable patients
· Collection of patient data and report to RN
· Reinforcement of RN education
· Medication administration (must be IV certified in OH, can only administer certain
IV drugs)
· Basic dressing changes
· Administration of enteral feeds
LPNs and IV medications - ANSWER · An LPN cannot administer or maintain
blood or blood components, solutions for total parenteral nutrition, cancer therapeutic
medications, medications administered through any other line that does not run
through a peripheral vein including a central venous line and arterial line, and an IV
piggyback infusion
· An LPN is not able to discontinue medication running through any other line that
does run through the peripheral vein
· And LPN cannot begin or stop a peripherally inserted central catheter· An LPN
cannot program or set any function of a patient-controlled analgesic (PCA) pump
Priority Setting - ANSWER · A complex step in the decision-making process
· Used to rank patient needs, determine order of nursing activities, and manage
resources
· "Critical thinking" supplies the logic within this process
What is priority? - ANSWER · Something that is more important than anything
else at a given time
· Could be related to a patient, team, or organization
, · These are principles that assist in arranging activities based on urgency, importance,
significance, or preference
Principles of Prioritization- systemic before local - ANSWER o Something affecting
the whole body vs. something affecting a specific area of the body
Principles of Prioritization- acute before chronic - ANSWER o Something that
develops very suddenly vs. something that is chronic and life-long
Principles of Prioritization- actual before potential problems - ANSWER o
Somebody who is having chest pain with EKG changes vs. somebody who is having
chest pain without EKG changes
Principles of Prioritization- trending vs. transient - ANSWER o Dropping BP vs. BP
that is all over the place (drops then bounces back)
Principles of Prioritization- listen carefully (do not assume) - ANSWER o If a
patient says they are going to die today, then pay attention because patients often
have a sense of feeling
Principles of Prioritization- recognize medical emergencies vs. expected patient findings
- ANSWER o An actual medical emergency vs. someone with a lot of problems
an it is expected for them to present that way
Principles of Prioritization- apply clinical knowledge to priority setting -
ANSWER o How to prioritize your patients, who to see first, etc.
Priority setting- high priority situations - ANSWER · Life-threatening (ABCs)
o Airway difficulties
o Cardiac changes
o Tissue perfusion changes
Delegation - ANSWER · Reassigning of responsibility for the performance of a
job from one person to another
o Direct- usually is verbal direction, RN decides which staff member can perform a
specific task
o Indirect- contained in approved listing of tasks established by an institution;
permitted tasks mat vary from institution to institution (ex: vital signs, blood sugar
checks as an aid)
Delegation vs. Supervision - ANSWER - Supervision is usually more direct than
delegation
- Requires directly overseeing the work and performance of others and includes
checking in with individuals during the day
- May entail delegation of tasks and activities (nursing manager performs both)
Vicarious Liability, Respondent Superior - ANSWER · Healthcare organizations are
responsible for the acts of its employees
· Failure to delegate/supervise within acceptable standards may be considered
malpractice
Considerations for Delegation - ANSWER · Predictability of outcome= if patient's
response to an activity cannot be known with some certainty it should not be
delegation
· Potential for harm= how much risk is involved to the patient due to this task
· Complexity of task= the greater the complexity of this task the less likely it should
be delegated
· Need for assessment/problem solving= if the problem involves a high degree of
problem solving it should be done by the RN
,· Level of patient interaction= don't delegate activities that will interfere with the
nurse/patient relationship
· Cannot delegate= nursing process (think ADPIE), education, tasks that require clinical
judgement/assessment
Understanding the Role of the LPN - ANSWER · Care for stable patients
· Collection of patient data and report to RN
· Reinforcement of RN education
· Medication administration (must be IV certified in OH, can only administer certain
IV drugs)
· Basic dressing changes
· Administration of enteral feeds
LPNs and IV medications - ANSWER · An LPN cannot administer or maintain
blood or blood components, solutions for total parenteral nutrition, cancer therapeutic
medications, medications administered through any other line that does not run
through a peripheral vein including a central venous line and arterial line, and an IV
piggyback infusion
· An LPN is not able to discontinue medication running through any other line that
does run through the peripheral vein
· And LPN cannot begin or stop a peripherally inserted central catheter· An LPN
cannot program or set any function of a patient-controlled analgesic (PCA) pump
Priority Setting - ANSWER · A complex step in the decision-making process
· Used to rank patient needs, determine order of nursing activities, and manage
resources
· "Critical thinking" supplies the logic within this process
What is priority? - ANSWER · Something that is more important than anything
else at a given time
· Could be related to a patient, team, or organization
, · These are principles that assist in arranging activities based on urgency, importance,
significance, or preference
Principles of Prioritization- systemic before local - ANSWER o Something affecting
the whole body vs. something affecting a specific area of the body
Principles of Prioritization- acute before chronic - ANSWER o Something that
develops very suddenly vs. something that is chronic and life-long
Principles of Prioritization- actual before potential problems - ANSWER o
Somebody who is having chest pain with EKG changes vs. somebody who is having
chest pain without EKG changes
Principles of Prioritization- trending vs. transient - ANSWER o Dropping BP vs. BP
that is all over the place (drops then bounces back)
Principles of Prioritization- listen carefully (do not assume) - ANSWER o If a
patient says they are going to die today, then pay attention because patients often
have a sense of feeling
Principles of Prioritization- recognize medical emergencies vs. expected patient findings
- ANSWER o An actual medical emergency vs. someone with a lot of problems
an it is expected for them to present that way
Principles of Prioritization- apply clinical knowledge to priority setting -
ANSWER o How to prioritize your patients, who to see first, etc.
Priority setting- high priority situations - ANSWER · Life-threatening (ABCs)
o Airway difficulties
o Cardiac changes
o Tissue perfusion changes
