Professional Roles and Values Reflected Through Delegation

NWT Task 3

Professional Roles and Values Reflected Through Delegation

In the world of nursing, delegation is a necessary tool in managing an average work day, without this tool nurses find themselves struggling to complete their tasks and duties in a timely manner. Throughout the nursing program an attempt is made to teach delegation in regards to nursing tasks, time, etc. Unfortunately the full scope of learning this tool does not occur until after a nurse starts her career. Nurses initially find it difficult to convey to others the needs to be met and will attempt to complete many tasks on their own. This is largely in part because nurses may think’ it’s easier to do myself,’ are uncertain of the competencies of their co-workers, or the co-workers reception of the delegation. C.N.As. could do the bed baths and vital signs, many facilities have patient educators to complete patient teaching as well as social workers who are able to set up discharge and home care.

In the summarized case study presented; a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is attempting to manage the care of a 30-week gestation, 19 year old with developmental delays, poor resources and no known family support. Although the FNP works in a clinic with staff members whose specialties could be utilized, and the clinic is affiliated with a high-risk clinic and children’s hospital, the FNP has not attempted to discuss, reach out, or delegate tasks to other staff members. In the case study, several of the difficulties the FNP encounters are the patient’s high rate of tardiness and absenteeism, not following directions or communicating with the office staff in between the appointments. The patient also is not managing her self-care well, with regards to nutrition, which places the fetus at risk for congenital anomalies and brain damage, and she has recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI), thus increasing the risk of pre-term labor. The patient’s lack of knowledge about resources, that perhaps a...