Section 440. Assessment required prior to delegation

Prior to delegation of nursing tasks and procedures, the delegating nurse shall make an assessment of the client and unlicensed person as follows:

1. The delegating nurse shall assess the clinical status and stability of the client's condition, shall determine the type, complexity and frequency of the nursing care needed and shall delegate only those tasks which:

a. Do not require the exercise of independent nursing judgment;

b. Do not require complex observations or critical decisions with respect to the nursing task or procedure;

c. Frequently recur in the routine care of the client or group of clients;

d. Do not require repeated performance of nursing assessments;

e. Utilize a standard procedure in which the tasks or procedures can be performed according to exact, unchanging directions; and

f. Have predictable results and for which the consequences of performing the task or procedures improperly are minimal and not life threatening.

2. The delegating nurse shall also assess the training, skills and experience of the unlicensed person and shall verify the competency of the unlicensed person in order to determine which tasks are appropriate for that unlicensed person and the method of supervision required.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 16, Issue 03, eff. November 24, 1999.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3005 of the Code of Virginia.