Assume you are the team leader for a team composed of six staff members. On your team, you have two seasoned registered nurses, one registered nurse who is floating to your floor from another medical unit, one certified nurse aide, and one new graduate registered nurse who has been on your unit for 3 weeks. You have assigned six of the unstable patients to the two seasoned nurses. One of the patients is scheduled for colon resection this morning. One patient, who is a post–right lobe thoracotomy, is scheduled for discharge and will need discharge teaching. One diabetic patient is postoperative day 1 from appendectomy, continues to be nauseated, and is on a patient-controlled analgesic. The remaining patients are currently stable and require minimal assistance.;
Instructions:
Read the Case Study above, and then answer the following questions:
What patient should you assign to the float nurse?
Which patient or patients should you assign to the new graduate nurse?
Why did you make these assignments?
What tasks could you delegate to the certified nurse aide?
Think back to when you were a new graduate. Did you find it difficult to delegate certain tasks? To whom did you turn for support?
Full Answer Section
I would assign the new graduate nurse to the two stable patients who require minimal assistance. This will give the new graduate nurse an opportunity to practice their basic nursing skills in a safe and supportive environment. I would also make sure to provide the new graduate nurse with close supervision and support.
I would delegate the following tasks to the certified nurse aide (CNA):
- Vital signs
- Intake and output
- Weight
- Blood sugar checks
- Assisting patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, and toileting
- Providing discharge teaching to the patient who is being discharged
When I was a new graduate, I did find it difficult to delegate certain tasks. I was worried that I was not delegating the tasks to the right people, or that I was not giving them enough information to complete the tasks correctly. I turned to my preceptor and other experienced nurses for support. They helped me to identify which tasks were appropriate to delegate, and they taught me how to delegate tasks effectively.
Here are some tips for new graduate nurses on how to delegate effectively:
- Choose the right person to delegate the task to. Consider the person's skills, experience, and workload.
- Be clear and concise when giving instructions. Make sure to explain the task and the desired outcome.
- Provide the person with all of the necessary information and resources.
- Set clear expectations and deadlines.
- Be available to answer questions and provide support.
It is important to remember that delegation is not a sign of weakness. It is a way to manage your time and workload effectively. By delegating tasks to other members of the team, you can focus on the most important tasks and provide better care to your patients.
Sample Answer
Case Study Response
As the team leader, I would assign the float nurse to the patient who is postoperative day 1 from appendectomy and continues to be nauseated and is on a patient-controlled analgesic (PCA). This patient is in a more unstable condition than the other patients, and they will require more frequent monitoring and care. The float nurse is likely to be familiar with the unit's policies and procedures, and they will have the experience necessary to care for a patient in this condition.