The allocation of authority and responsibility to perform a selected task to a competent individual is known… - KPSC Staff Nurse - 2021

KPSC Staff Nurse - 2021

Nursing Management & leadership

Easy

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2021

Explanation

Delegation is the process of transferring the authority and responsibility to perform a selected nursing task in a specific situation to a competent individual.
The key aspect of delegation is that while authority and responsibility for the task are transferred, the delegating nurse retains accountability for the outcome.
This process allows nurse managers to assign routine tasks, manage workload efficiently, and utilize the skills of the entire healthcare team effectively.
The definition provided in the question stem perfectly matches the established definition of delegation in nursing management.

Option A: Assignment refers to the distribution of routine work that is already within an employee's scope of practice and job description. It does not involve transferring authority to perform a task that is outside their normal duties.
Option B: Transference is a concept from psychology, describing a phenomenon where a person unconsciously redirects feelings and desires, especially those from childhood, onto a new person (e.g., a patient viewing a nurse as a mother figure). It has no relevance to task allocation in management.
Option D: Mentoring is a long-term professional development strategy. It is a relationship-focused process aimed at career guidance and support, not the completion of a specific, immediate task.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Principles of Nursing Management: Delegation as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Proper delegation is a critical skill for registered nurses to ensure patient safety and manage time effectively. It allows the RN to focus on complex patient assessments and care planning.
Improper delegation, such as assigning a task to an unqualified person or failing to provide adequate supervision, can lead to serious patient harm and legal consequences for the nurse.
What if? If the individual is not competent to perform the task, the nurse must not delegate it. The nurse's primary responsibility is to assess the competency of the delegatee. Delegating to an incompetent person violates the 'Right Person' principle and constitutes professional negligence.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the keywords in the question stem: 'allocation of authority,' 'responsibility,' and 'competent individual.'
Recognize that these terms are specific to management and leadership principles in nursing.
Evaluate each option based on its definition in a nursing management context.
'Assignment' is about distributing work, not transferring authority.
'Transference' is a psychological term.
'Mentoring' is about long-term guidance, not a single task.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Principles of Nursing Management: Delegation
Stem keywords: allocation of authority, responsibility, selected task, competent individual
Lead-in keywords: known as

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

E6 Principles and Practice of NURSING Management Leadership for BSc Nursing 3rd Edi Jogindra Vati — Subpart A (pp 26-339 of 1017) p. 162-164