Which situations are examples of ineffective delegation? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.
A) After delegating committee attendance to a staff nurse, the nurse manager also attends the meetings.
B) The unit clerk asks the nurse manager to "listen for the phones" so the clerk can go to the hospital's celebration of hospital week.
C) The nurse manager asks the staff nurse to collect information about a new type of hospital bed being considered for purchase.
D) The staff nurse asks the UAP to provide simple discharge instructions to a client.
E) The staff nurse often bathes clients because "I like to give bed baths."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1. The purpose of delegating attendance to a staff nurse is so the manager will not need to attend the meeting. When the manager does attend, the staff nurse's position is diminished. This is an example of underdelegation.
2. When someone of lower rank, in this case the unit clerk, delegates a task to someone of higher rank, in this case the nurse manager, a situation of reverse delegation has occurred. This is ineffective delegation.
3. The nurse manager has asked someone of lower rank to complete a task that is within that person's capabilities. This is effective delegation.
4. Provision of education requires nursing knowledge and judgment and cannot be delegated to a UAP. This is an example of over-delegation.
5. Bathing clients can be delegated to staff of lower rank. If the nurse is giving the bath for assessment purposes, this lack of delegation would be appropriate. If the nurse is not delegating baths because "I like to give bed baths," the lack of delegation is inappropriate.

Which Situations Are Examples of Ineffective Delegation? Note: Credit Will