Which health care professionals can be delegators?

Nurses are considered the appropriate delegators among healthcare professionals because they hold the necessary education, training, and legal authority to delegate tasks effectively. Nursing practice is governed by specific regulations that ensure nurses can assign certain responsibilities to others while retaining accountability for patient outcomes.

This delegation process requires a clear understanding of the competencies of team members and the scope of practice of the task being delegated. Nurses assess the situation, determine the complexity of the task, and ensure that the person to whom they are delegating possesses the skills and competencies needed to perform the task safely and effectively.

While assistants, technicians, and client care associates play important roles in healthcare delivery and may often work under the supervision of nurses or other healthcare professionals, they generally do not have the authority to delegate tasks themselves. Their roles are usually more focused on direct care or supportive activities rather than management or organization of care practice as required for effective delegation.