Assignment and delegation guidelines for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses

Nurses determine assignments according to: •. the client’s condition (complexity, variability and acuity) •. the scope of practice of the health provider’s profession •. the individual scope/competence of the individual performing the intervention •. the scope of employment/agency policy •. context of practice. [...] The nurse is responsible for the ongoing assessment of the appropriateness of the assignment as well as for the ongoing assessment of the client’s health status and plan of care. [...] The following have all been well-established: the need for the intervention, the response of the client and the outcome(s) of performing the intervention. [...] The RN could apply the oxygen and delegate the administration of the acetaminophen to the PCP while s/he prepares the IV antibiotics. [...] If the RN cannot immediately assess the client, the RN collaborates with the LPN and provides guidance for the LPN to care for the client and perform regular assessments until the RN is available.