It’s normal for nurses to feel daunted at the thought of delegating in the workplace, however it is an important skill to master. Not only does it allow you to better manage your time so that you can focus on more complex patient cases that can’t always be delegated, but it also helps other members of your team to develop the right skills and become more confident.
Sometimes it’s just not possible to do everything yourself (we don’t want you to burn out!) Delegation can be a tough thing for nurses to master, and it can be even harder for regsitered nurses who have moved from another country to work in a new hospital on a new team. Here are some tips to help make delegation easier for you:
- Find out which tasks can be delegated and to who. Firt and foremost, it is really important to know that the person you are delegating to is competent. You will find this information in your hospital policy or you can check it out on your state board of nursing’s website.
- Start building relationships. The earlier you can start building relationships and rapport with your team the better. Introduce yourself, ask their names and show that you care about getting to know them. A good time to start getting to know people is during your Orientation – before you even have to delegate – as you will have built up relationships by the time you will need to delegate. Orientation will also allow you to observe how other’s delegate to support staff and to see what works and what doesn’t!
- Get in to a routine. At the start of your shift you should always try to touch base with your team to find out what needs doing and what the patients’ needs are. This not only allows you to keep a sense of control and to find out what needs doing and delegating, but it also helps promote communication and teamwork.
- Communication is key. Make sure you communication clearly and respectful. Be detailed in your request, make sure you pass on the relevant information and be clear on how soon the task needs to be done. It’s important to make yourself available so that you can give guidance, support and advice. And don’t forget to follow up to make sure the task is completed to the correct standard and as per hospital procedure.
- Honesty is the best policy. If you see someone doing something wrong, kindly let them know and educate them on how to do it right. Be kind and patient.
- Always show your appreciation by saying ‘Thank you’. It’s the little things that count.
Remember the main goal of delegation should be to strengthen the healthcare team so that your patients receive the best possible care. US Ready gives our nurses the opportunity to be the best they can be for when they start working in the USA. Keep an eye out for more details on our website and Facebook page over the coming weeks. #USREADY coming 2019.