Five Rights of Delegation

State nurse practice acts define the legal parameters for nursing practice. Most states authorize RNs to delegate.

There is both individual accountability and organizational accountability for delegation.

Organizational accountability for delegation relates to providing sufficient resources, including:

1. Sufficient staffing with an appropriate staff mix.
2. Documenting competencies for all staff providing direct patient care and for ensuring that the RN has access to information for the staff to whom the RN is delegating care.
3. Organizational policies on delegation are developed with the active participation of all nurses and acknowledge that delegation is a professional right and responsibility.

Individual accountability for the RN is to use critical thinking and professional judgment when following the Five Rights of Delegation, to be sure that the delegation or assignment is:

1. The right task
2. Under the right circumstances
3. To the right person
4. With the right directions and communication; and
5. Under the right supervision and evaluation.

State nurse practice acts define the legal parameters for nursing practice. Most states authorize RNs to delegate.

There is both individual accountability and organizational accountability for delegation.

Organizational accountability for delegation relates to providing sufficient resources, including:

1. Sufficient staffing with an appropriate staff mix.
2. Documenting competencies for all staff providing direct patient care and for ensuring that the RN has access to information for the staff to whom the RN is delegating care.
3. Organizational policies on delegation are developed with the active participation of all nurses, and acknowledge that delegation is a professional right and responsibility.

Individual accountability for the RN is to use critical thinking and professional judgment when following the Five Rights of Delegation, to be sure that the delegation or assignment is:

1. The right task
2. Under the right circumstances
3. To the right person
4. With the right directions and communication; and
5. Under the right supervision and evaluation.

American Nurses Association (ANA) and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). (n.d.). Joint Statement on Delegation. Retrieved from: https://www.ncsbn.org/Delegation_joint_statement_NCSBN-ANA.pdf