First year registered nurses and delegation of duties

Registered nurses are responsible and accountable for making decisions and delegation in accordance with the individual’s experience and within the Scope of Nursing Practice. For the first year registered nurse delegation of nursing functions occurs from themselves to other registered nurses and enrolled nurses (EN). This descriptive study explored the experiences of 15 recently graduated nurses using focus group discussions via teleconference. The main findings were that the nurses found delegation difficult with some nurses choosing to complete the task rather than having to delegate. Consistent with the Scope of Nursing Practice guidelines participants in this study attempted to determine the skill level of the EN prior to delegation of the duty. However assessment of competence was based on personal perceptions of trusting the person. This study highlights the need for further research to examine the first year registered nurse’s decision-making process when delegating duties to ensure these decisions are consistent with the guiding principle for delegation within the profession.