Delegation in Nursing: 6 Tips to Master Delegation

Delegation feels daunting at first, but it's an essential nursing skill. Done well, it makes you and your team more organized and efficient, and it keeps patient care moving. Here are six strategies to start with.

1. Get to know your team

Knowing your team is the first step. If you're new to a unit, take time to learn who people are. Ask when they started and how long they've worked the area. It builds a working relationship and makes your CNAs feel valued.

2. Make them feel involved

Delegation is more than handing out tasks. Bring your team into the care plan. At the start of each shift, walk through your plan for the next eight hours: who needs turning and when, who's lined up for discharge, who's at risk for a seizure or fall. When everyone knows the plan, they work as one team with one goal.

3. Help them learn

Your CNAs may not prioritize as well as you do, and they can get overwhelmed when tasks pile up. Part of leading is helping them grow. Redirect them when they misprioritize, and guide them when they're swamped. When you correct something, explain why. Pointing out a mistake fixes the moment; explaining it prevents the next one.

4. Appreciate the help

You can't answer eight call bells at once. A good CNA takes work off your plate while keeping every patient attended to. Show appreciation for the work they do. It makes them feel valued and keeps them motivated.

5. The Five Rights of Delegation

Before you delegate, know the five rights. Handing a task to the wrong person doesn't just lower the quality of care, it can put patients in danger. Per the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the five rights are:

Right Person. The licensed nurse, the employer, and the delegatee share responsibility for ensuring the delegatee has the skills and knowledge to perform the activity.

Right Task. The activity falls within the delegatee's job description or the unit's written policies. The facility must define the limits of the activity and provide any needed competency training.

Right Direction. Each situation is specific to the patient, the nurse, and the delegatee. Communicate clear instructions: what data to collect, how to collect it, when to report back, and anything else relevant. The delegatee should ask clarifying questions, confirm they understand, and agree to accept the task. Make clear they can't change how they carry it out without checking with you first.

Right Circumstances. The patient's condition must be stable. If it changes, the delegatee reports back, and you reassess whether the delegation still fits.

Right Supervision and Evaluation. You monitor the activity, follow up at completion, evaluate the outcome, and stay available to step in. The delegatee keeps you informed throughout. Make sure the activity is documented.

6. Delegation runs both ways

Working on your charts while a CNA runs from patient to patient isn't just impolite, it's unprofessional. Your team helps you through the shift, so help them too. You don't have to take on everything, but picking up some of the load when they're swamped shows you're on the same team. The best units have each other's back without being asked.