Safe & Effective Care Environment

Right task, right circumstance, right person, right direction/communication, and right supervision. The RN remains accountable for the delegation decision and overall patient outcome.

The RN cannot delegate assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, evaluation, teaching, or any task requiring nursing judgment. UAP may perform stable, predictable tasks like vitals, hygiene, ambulation, and intake/output.

Address Airway, Breathing, then Circulation first. A patent airway always takes priority because without it the patient cannot oxygenate, regardless of other problems.

After ABCs, physiological needs (food, fluid, elimination, comfort) take priority over safety, which takes priority over love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

An acute or unstable problem generally takes priority over a chronic or stable one. A new, unexpected change in condition outranks an expected finding.

Advocacy means supporting the patient's right to make informed decisions and protecting their interests, even when those choices differ from the nurse's or family's preferences.