C HAPTER 14: D ELEGATING : A UTHORITY ,
A CCOUNTABILITY , AND R ESPONSIBILITY IN
D ELEGATION D ECISIONS
Yoder-Wise: Leading and Managing in Nursing, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following exemplifies accountabilit y? Karen, the nurse
manager on 5E:
a. consistentl y submits her budgets on time.
b. gets along well with her staff and with other managers.
c. outlines her rationale for reduction of RN coverage on nights to the
Nursing Practice Committee after serious patient injury.
d. activel y solicits ideas regarding scheduling from her staff.
ANS: C
Reliabilit y, dependabilit y, and obligation to fulfill the roles and
responsibilities of the nurse manager are consistent with responsibilit y.
Accountabilit y refers to being answerable for actions and results.
TOP: AONE competency: Professionalism
2. Which of the followi ng indicates safe delegation?
, a. The nurse supervisor for a large urban acute care department asks
the unit manager to accept two new acutely ill patients, which the
manager does. The unit is short two staff, and the replacement is
inexperienced.
b. A unit manager agrees to release a staff from her unit to Unit B. The
staff member she agrees to release is experienced on Unit B and is
agreeable to the change. The unit manager ’s unit is full y staffed and
patients are stable.
c. The nurse supervisor asks the head nurse for Unit A to make do
without a replacement for an ill staff member because Unit A was
originall y overstaffed anyway. Patient acuit y levels are very high on
Unit A and two staff are orientating.
d. The nurse supervisor asks the charge nurse on Unit B to cove r Unit
F, which is two floors up, because the charge nurse for Unit F is ill.
The charge nurse for Unit B is an experienced manager but has no
experience with the nursing care required on Unit F.
ANS: B
When span of control (number of individuals for who m a manager is
responsible) is compromised by geographic factors such as lack of
proximit y, instability in patients ’ conditions, or lack of experience, the
span of control that is being delegated may lead to unsafe care.
TOP: AONE competency: Knowledge of the Health Care
Environment
3. Which of the following would be most in line with Hersey model and
concepts?
, a. The team of caregivers on day shift are familiar with their roles and
with the patients. The nurse manager decides to work on the unit
budget in her office.
b. After a year of working on the unit, Shari, an LPN, is still hesitant
about many policies and procedures. The charge nurse decides to
challenge Shari with more difficult patients.
c. The nursing supervisor asks one of her charge nurses to lead a
technology integration project. The supervisor continuousl y
demands involvement in decisions that the charge nurse is making
in the project.
d. Team members complain that Al ysha, an RN, is unmotivated, and
that she refuses assignments that are complex or difficult . The
charge nurse suggests that Al ysha is relativel y new and that she
needs time to adjust.
ANS: A
The Hersey model/framework suggests that when abilit y (skills, job
knowledge) and willingness are strong, the involvement of the
delegator is less.
TOP: AONE competency: Business Skills
4. In delegating to a UNP in a home health setting, which of the following
represents the most appropriate delegation communication?
a. “You will be taking care of Mrs. S., who needs assistance with her
bath.”
b. “You will need to help Mrs. S. get into and out of her shower.
Ensure that you check the condition of her feet, and let me know if
you have any concerns when you check in. ”
A CCOUNTABILITY , AND R ESPONSIBILITY IN
D ELEGATION D ECISIONS
Yoder-Wise: Leading and Managing in Nursing, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following exemplifies accountabilit y? Karen, the nurse
manager on 5E:
a. consistentl y submits her budgets on time.
b. gets along well with her staff and with other managers.
c. outlines her rationale for reduction of RN coverage on nights to the
Nursing Practice Committee after serious patient injury.
d. activel y solicits ideas regarding scheduling from her staff.
ANS: C
Reliabilit y, dependabilit y, and obligation to fulfill the roles and
responsibilities of the nurse manager are consistent with responsibilit y.
Accountabilit y refers to being answerable for actions and results.
TOP: AONE competency: Professionalism
2. Which of the followi ng indicates safe delegation?
, a. The nurse supervisor for a large urban acute care department asks
the unit manager to accept two new acutely ill patients, which the
manager does. The unit is short two staff, and the replacement is
inexperienced.
b. A unit manager agrees to release a staff from her unit to Unit B. The
staff member she agrees to release is experienced on Unit B and is
agreeable to the change. The unit manager ’s unit is full y staffed and
patients are stable.
c. The nurse supervisor asks the head nurse for Unit A to make do
without a replacement for an ill staff member because Unit A was
originall y overstaffed anyway. Patient acuit y levels are very high on
Unit A and two staff are orientating.
d. The nurse supervisor asks the charge nurse on Unit B to cove r Unit
F, which is two floors up, because the charge nurse for Unit F is ill.
The charge nurse for Unit B is an experienced manager but has no
experience with the nursing care required on Unit F.
ANS: B
When span of control (number of individuals for who m a manager is
responsible) is compromised by geographic factors such as lack of
proximit y, instability in patients ’ conditions, or lack of experience, the
span of control that is being delegated may lead to unsafe care.
TOP: AONE competency: Knowledge of the Health Care
Environment
3. Which of the following would be most in line with Hersey model and
concepts?
, a. The team of caregivers on day shift are familiar with their roles and
with the patients. The nurse manager decides to work on the unit
budget in her office.
b. After a year of working on the unit, Shari, an LPN, is still hesitant
about many policies and procedures. The charge nurse decides to
challenge Shari with more difficult patients.
c. The nursing supervisor asks one of her charge nurses to lead a
technology integration project. The supervisor continuousl y
demands involvement in decisions that the charge nurse is making
in the project.
d. Team members complain that Al ysha, an RN, is unmotivated, and
that she refuses assignments that are complex or difficult . The
charge nurse suggests that Al ysha is relativel y new and that she
needs time to adjust.
ANS: A
The Hersey model/framework suggests that when abilit y (skills, job
knowledge) and willingness are strong, the involvement of the
delegator is less.
TOP: AONE competency: Business Skills
4. In delegating to a UNP in a home health setting, which of the following
represents the most appropriate delegation communication?
a. “You will be taking care of Mrs. S., who needs assistance with her
bath.”
b. “You will need to help Mrs. S. get into and out of her shower.
Ensure that you check the condition of her feet, and let me know if
you have any concerns when you check in. ”
