What is a fundamental principle of task delegation in nursing?

A fundamental principle of task delegation in nursing is that nurses must ensure that the tasks they delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are appropriate and align with the competencies of those individuals. This entails understanding the scope of practice and the specific training of each UAP to ascertain which tasks they are equipped to handle.

By doing so, nurses are upholding standards of safety and quality of care. Delegating tasks that are beyond the UAP's abilities can lead to patient harm and legal ramifications for the nurse. This principle emphasizes the responsibility of the nurse not only in assigning tasks but also in matching those tasks to the knowledge and skills of the UAP, thereby fostering a safer, more effective healthcare environment.