Washington State Nurse Delegation Practice Test

When considering the delegation of tasks by a registered nurse (RN), the stability of a patient's condition is a critical factor. If a patient’s condition is unstable, it increases the risk of complications, and the RN must ensure that the most qualified person is directly providing the necessary care. In such situations, the RN is responsible for monitoring and making immediate decisions about the patient's health, which would not allow for delegation of tasks that require less skilled personnel or that might not be performed to the required standard due to the patient's fluctuating state.

In contrast, the presence of permanent staff shortages may impact the ability to delegate effectively, but it is not a direct reason for avoiding delegation itself. Similarly, advancements in technology may enhance the ability to perform certain tasks more efficiently but do not negate the necessity for careful evaluation of patient conditions. Personal biases against staff can certainly influence an RN's willingness to delegate, but ethical professional standards require decisions to be based on patient safety and care needs, rather than personal feelings about an individual staff member. Thus, unstable patient conditions are rightly viewed as a primary reason for an RN to refrain from delegating a task.