Are you responsible for delegating tasks to assistive personnel?

The environment that nurses practice in today is fast-paced and under-staffed. With the nursing shortage, nurses cannot provide the needed care without assistive support.  This course is designed to breakdown the process of delegation – who can delegate, who can be delegated to, what nursing tasks can be delegated, and the red flags to watch out for. This course was developed for licensed nurses - both Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPN/LVN) who delegate nursing care functions.*

*Note that in most states, RNs are authorized to delegate. In some states, LPN/VNs are authorized to delegate in specified settings and/or circumstances. State Nurse Practice Acts determine what level of licensed nurse is authorized to delegate. Refer to your state's nurse practice act and board of nursing for specific information about the authorization to delegate based on level of nursing licensure. Go to www.nursingboards.org to find contact information for your board of nursing.

For only $25, you will receive three weeks of unlimited, 24-hour access to the course, earning 4.2 contact hours! Start enhancing your delegation skills by signing up today!

Gain Knowledge about Delegation by RNs or LPN/VNs in an Interactive Setting

This course uses some of the learning aides developed for the Delegating Effectively: Working Through and With Assistive Personnel video and facilitation package (NCSBN 2002) and the document, Working with Others: A Position Paper (NCSBN 2005).

The course utilizes various e-learning instructional techniques to help you meet the course objectives:

• View clips from the Delegating Effectively  video - these clips follow the story of a client in a hospital, Ms. Campbell, and her care by an RN, an LPN and a nurse aide. As her story unfolds, viewers get a first hand look at how critical the skill of delegation can be. The clips also blend narrative and expert guidance on the topic. These clips are streaming video in Windows Media or QuickTime formats. 
• Expand your understanding with key terms and “Links to Knowledge” throughout the online course content.
• Apply your knowledge to real life situations as you complete exercises in your downloadable workbook.
• Evaluate your understanding of key concepts by completing the Post-Test. Score 75% or above to receive your contact hours!
• Guide yourself through the course and complete assignments at your own pace. Access the delegation syllabus here (PDF 85kb).

Learn to Delegate with Confidence to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAPs)

Through exercises and video scenarios, you will gain confidence as you apply your knowledge and expertise to the day-to-day situations you encounter. Enhancing your delegation skills will lead to a safer and more effective nursing care environment.

Come Away with Finely Honed Nursing Delegation Skills

Master these course objectives:

• Define delegation
• Differentiate between responsibility and accountability
• Compare the level of accountability for the delegating nurse and the delegatee
• List the benefits of effective delegation
• List the barriers to effective delegation
• List the steps in the delegation process
• Discuss the five “rights” of delegation
• Identify “red flags” of inappropriate delegation
• Describe how delegation activities influence client outcomes
• Identify when a delegated activity is inappropriate for the level of personnel
• Develop a plan for corrective action when delegatees do not perform a task as delegated

Online registration is easy, and your three weeks of unlimited access to the course begins immediately after you register. Sign up for Delegating Effectively today! To gain a sense of the concepts covered in the course and for a little brain challenge try the word search of delegation terms.

More About Your Delegating Effectively Course Authors

Course content is based on the facilitation package, Delegating Effectively: Working Through and With Assistive Personnel (NCSBN 2002), and the document, Working with Others: A Position Paper (NCSBN 2005). Content developers for these publications include the following individuals from NCSBN committees:

NCSBN Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) Task Force (1997)

• Marie Fisher, RN, C, MS, Chair
• Judy Bontrager, RN, MN
• Vicky Burbach, RN, MS
• Polly Johnson, RN, MSN
• R. Wynne Simpkins, RN, MS
• Vickie Sheets, JD, RN, CAE, NCSBN Staff

NCSBN Practice, Regulation & Education Subcommittee on Delegation and Assistive Personnel (2005)

• Cheryl Koski, RN, MN, CS, Chair
• Mary Bubaugh, RN, MSN
• Sue Deroen, RN, BSN
• Julia George, RN, MSN
• Judith Hiner, RN, CNA, BC
• George Herbert, MA, RN, APN, C
• Janette E. Wackerly, RN, MBA
• Vickie Sheets, RN, JD, CAE, NCSBN Staff

Editorial feedback for the online course was received from the following:

• Karla Bitz, RN, PhD, Associate Director, North Dakota Board of Nursing
• Nathan Goldman, BA, JD, General Counsel, Kentucky Board of Nursing
• Carol Marshall RN, MSN, Lead Nursing Consultant for Practice, Texas Board of Nurse Examiners
• Sharon Ridgeway, RN, PhD, Assistant Director, Education, Minnesota Board of Nursing
• Anne Ringquist, RN, BSN, Nursing Practice Specialist, Minnesota Board of Nursing
• Sue A. Tedford, RN, MNSc, Director of Nursing Education , Arkansas State Board of Nursing