A situation where a supervisor gives some of her work to her subordinate is known as?

IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg Entrance-2017

Nursing Management & leadership

Easy

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg Entrance-2017

Explanation

Delegation is the process where a manager or supervisor assigns specific tasks or duties to a subordinate.
This process involves granting the subordinate the appropriate authority to perform the job.
While the task is given to the subordinate, the supervisor retains overall accountability for the results.
It is a key organizational skill for managers to distribute workload and develop the capabilities of their team members.

Option A: Authority is the right or power to give commands and make decisions. It is a component of delegation but not the process of assigning work itself.
Option C: Responsibility is the obligation on the part of the subordinate to perform the task that has been assigned. It is what is being transferred, not the name of the transfer process.
Option D: Decentralization is a broad, organization-wide strategy of distributing decision-making power across various levels of the organization, rather than a specific, individual act of a supervisor assigning a task to a subordinate.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Management Principles: Delegation as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
In nursing, delegation is a critical skill. A Registered Nurse (RN) frequently delegates tasks to Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAPs) to ensure efficient and safe patient care.
The '5 Rights of Delegation' (Right Task, Circumstance, Person, Direction, and Supervision) is a non-negotiable framework in nursing to prevent errors and protect patient safety. The RN remains legally accountable for the outcome of the delegated task.
What if? If a nurse delegates a task (e.g., a complex dressing change) to a UAP who is not trained for it (violating the 'Right Person' principle), the nurse is liable for any resulting patient harm, even though they did not perform the task themselves.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the question stem. It describes a specific action: a supervisor giving work to a subordinate.
Next, evaluate each option based on standard management terminology.
Recognize that 'Authority' is the power to act, 'Responsibility' is the obligation to complete the act, and 'Decentralization' is a large-scale organizational structure.
Identify 'Delegation' as the specific term for the process of a superior assigning a task to a subordinate.
Confirm the choice by recalling that delegation involves transferring responsibility while retaining accountability.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Textbook of Nursing Management and Leadership I. Clemen — Subpart B (pp 328-654 of 982) pp. 133-135, 172-174

E6 Nursing_Management_and_leadership_Johny_Kutty_JosephCbs_Publishers (pp 16-364 of 374) p. 160-162