Delegation Principles

Delegation is the process by which a regulated health professional (such as a registered nurse or registered practical nurse) transfers the authority to perform a specific nursing activity to another person (such as a personal support worker or unregulated care provider) while retaining accountability for the overall outcome of care. The concept of delegation is rooted in professional nursing standards, legislation, and regulatory frameworks that define scope of practice boundaries for each category of healthcare provider. The registered practical nurse (RPN) in Canada (or licensed practical nurse/LPN in most US jurisdictions) holds a defined scope of practice that includes performing nursing assessments within a predictable client population, administering medications (including some controlled substances depending on jurisdiction), performing wound care, inserting nasogastric tubes, and providing direct patient care across multiple settings. The nurse practices under the direction of a registered nurse (RN) or physician in complex or unpredictable situations, but functions with increasing autonomy for stable, predictable clients. The scope of practice for each regulated nursing professional is determined by four key elements: legislation (the Nursing Act and profession-specific regulations), entry-level...