Delegation & Prioritization - 2026 Clinical Decision Making:
Practice Test 1 (Units 1-7) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Task-oriented delegation differs from patient-centered delegation in that patient-centered
delegation:
A. Considers the whole patient's needs and condition when deciding what to delegate
B. Focuses only on tasks
C. Ignores patient condition
D. Delegates everything
Correct Answer: A. Considers the whole patient's needs and condition when deciding what to
delegate
Rationale: The same task may be safe for one patient but not another. Context matters.
2. Underdelegation occurs when a nurse:
A. Delegates too much
B. Fails to delegate appropriate tasks, often from lack of trust or experience, leading to overload
C. Delegates to unqualified staff
D. Supervises closely
Correct Answer: B. Fails to delegate appropriate tasks, often from lack of trust or experience,
leading to overload
Rationale: New nurses often underdelegate. It contributes to missed care and burnout.
3. When a registered nurse delegates a task to assistive personnel, the RN:
A. Retains accountability for the patient and for the decision to delegate
B. Transfers all accountability
C. Is no longer involved
D. Becomes accountable only if harm occurs
Correct Answer: A. Retains accountability for the patient and for the decision to delegate
Rationale: The delegatee is responsible for performing the task correctly. The RN supervises
and evaluates.
,4. The delegatee is:
A. The person who delegates
B. The charge nurse always
C. The physician
D. The person receiving the delegated responsibility, who must be competent and accept it
Correct Answer: D. The person receiving the delegated responsibility, who must be
competent and accept it
Rationale: Delegatees may be RNs, LPN/VNs or assistive personnel. They are responsible for
performing the task correctly.
5. When a nurse is unsure whether a task can be delegated, the nurse should:
A. Delegate anyway
B. Ask the patient
C. Ask a visitor
D. Consult the state Nurse Practice Act, employer policy, job description and nurse leader
Correct Answer: D. Consult the state Nurse Practice Act, employer policy, job description and
nurse leader
Rationale: Resources clarify scope. When in doubt, the nurse performs the task.
6. Delegation to another RN is:
A. Never possible
B. Possible when the task is outside the receiving RN's routine role but within scope, though
most RN-to-RN transfers are assignments
C. Always an assignment
D. Illegal
Correct Answer: B. Possible when the task is outside the receiving RN's routine role but within
scope, though most RN-to-RN transfers are assignments
Rationale: Example: delegating a specialized skill to a newly trained RN. Most RN work is
assigned.
,7. Which statement about accountability in delegation is correct?
A. Only the delegatee is accountable
B. Both delegator and delegatee are accountable for their own actions
C. Only the employer is accountable
D. No one is accountable
Correct Answer: B. Both delegator and delegatee are accountable for their own actions
Rationale: The delegator is accountable for the decision and supervision. The delegatee is
accountable for performance.
8. An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) delegating to another provider must:
A. Ignore delegation principles
B. Transfer accountability
C. Follow the same principles of competence, communication and supervision
D. Avoid supervision
Correct Answer: C. Follow the same principles of competence, communication and
supervision
Rationale: Delegation principles apply across roles. Scope determines what can be delegated.
9. A job description for assistive personnel helps delegation by:
A. Replacing the Nurse Practice Act
B. Listing patients' diagnoses
C. Defining the tasks the employer has authorized and trained the role to perform
D. Setting physician orders
Correct Answer: C. Defining the tasks the employer has authorized and trained the role to
perform
Rationale: Nurses check the job description before delegating. Tasks outside it require
additional authorization.
, 10. Responsibility in nursing delegation refers to:
A. The obligation to perform an activity correctly and completely
B. Legal ownership of the hospital
C. Answerability for outcomes only
D. Authority to hire staff
Correct Answer: A. The obligation to perform an activity correctly and completely
Rationale: The delegatee takes on responsibility for the task. Accountability for the decision
stays with the delegator.
11. The delegatee must verbally accept the delegated responsibility because:
A. Acceptance confirms understanding and willingness to perform the task
B. It is a legal formality only
C. It is optional
D. It transfers accountability
Correct Answer: A. Acceptance confirms understanding and willingness to perform the task
Rationale: Two-way communication is required. The delegatee may ask questions.
12. Under the 2019 guidelines, a delegatee may:
A. Re-delegate to any coworker
B. Change the task without consulting
C. Not re-delegate the task to another person
D. Delegate back to a student
Correct Answer: C. Not re-delegate the task to another person
Rationale: Re-delegation breaks the chain of accountability. Concerns should be reported to the
delegator.
Practice Test 1 (Units 1-7) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Task-oriented delegation differs from patient-centered delegation in that patient-centered
delegation:
A. Considers the whole patient's needs and condition when deciding what to delegate
B. Focuses only on tasks
C. Ignores patient condition
D. Delegates everything
Correct Answer: A. Considers the whole patient's needs and condition when deciding what to
delegate
Rationale: The same task may be safe for one patient but not another. Context matters.
2. Underdelegation occurs when a nurse:
A. Delegates too much
B. Fails to delegate appropriate tasks, often from lack of trust or experience, leading to overload
C. Delegates to unqualified staff
D. Supervises closely
Correct Answer: B. Fails to delegate appropriate tasks, often from lack of trust or experience,
leading to overload
Rationale: New nurses often underdelegate. It contributes to missed care and burnout.
3. When a registered nurse delegates a task to assistive personnel, the RN:
A. Retains accountability for the patient and for the decision to delegate
B. Transfers all accountability
C. Is no longer involved
D. Becomes accountable only if harm occurs
Correct Answer: A. Retains accountability for the patient and for the decision to delegate
Rationale: The delegatee is responsible for performing the task correctly. The RN supervises
and evaluates.
,4. The delegatee is:
A. The person who delegates
B. The charge nurse always
C. The physician
D. The person receiving the delegated responsibility, who must be competent and accept it
Correct Answer: D. The person receiving the delegated responsibility, who must be
competent and accept it
Rationale: Delegatees may be RNs, LPN/VNs or assistive personnel. They are responsible for
performing the task correctly.
5. When a nurse is unsure whether a task can be delegated, the nurse should:
A. Delegate anyway
B. Ask the patient
C. Ask a visitor
D. Consult the state Nurse Practice Act, employer policy, job description and nurse leader
Correct Answer: D. Consult the state Nurse Practice Act, employer policy, job description and
nurse leader
Rationale: Resources clarify scope. When in doubt, the nurse performs the task.
6. Delegation to another RN is:
A. Never possible
B. Possible when the task is outside the receiving RN's routine role but within scope, though
most RN-to-RN transfers are assignments
C. Always an assignment
D. Illegal
Correct Answer: B. Possible when the task is outside the receiving RN's routine role but within
scope, though most RN-to-RN transfers are assignments
Rationale: Example: delegating a specialized skill to a newly trained RN. Most RN work is
assigned.
,7. Which statement about accountability in delegation is correct?
A. Only the delegatee is accountable
B. Both delegator and delegatee are accountable for their own actions
C. Only the employer is accountable
D. No one is accountable
Correct Answer: B. Both delegator and delegatee are accountable for their own actions
Rationale: The delegator is accountable for the decision and supervision. The delegatee is
accountable for performance.
8. An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) delegating to another provider must:
A. Ignore delegation principles
B. Transfer accountability
C. Follow the same principles of competence, communication and supervision
D. Avoid supervision
Correct Answer: C. Follow the same principles of competence, communication and
supervision
Rationale: Delegation principles apply across roles. Scope determines what can be delegated.
9. A job description for assistive personnel helps delegation by:
A. Replacing the Nurse Practice Act
B. Listing patients' diagnoses
C. Defining the tasks the employer has authorized and trained the role to perform
D. Setting physician orders
Correct Answer: C. Defining the tasks the employer has authorized and trained the role to
perform
Rationale: Nurses check the job description before delegating. Tasks outside it require
additional authorization.
, 10. Responsibility in nursing delegation refers to:
A. The obligation to perform an activity correctly and completely
B. Legal ownership of the hospital
C. Answerability for outcomes only
D. Authority to hire staff
Correct Answer: A. The obligation to perform an activity correctly and completely
Rationale: The delegatee takes on responsibility for the task. Accountability for the decision
stays with the delegator.
11. The delegatee must verbally accept the delegated responsibility because:
A. Acceptance confirms understanding and willingness to perform the task
B. It is a legal formality only
C. It is optional
D. It transfers accountability
Correct Answer: A. Acceptance confirms understanding and willingness to perform the task
Rationale: Two-way communication is required. The delegatee may ask questions.
12. Under the 2019 guidelines, a delegatee may:
A. Re-delegate to any coworker
B. Change the task without consulting
C. Not re-delegate the task to another person
D. Delegate back to a student
Correct Answer: C. Not re-delegate the task to another person
Rationale: Re-delegation breaks the chain of accountability. Concerns should be reported to the
delegator.
