Study guide
2.6 Five Rights of Delegation
NCLEX-RN Registered Nurse
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1 Introduction
About the NCLEX-RN Exam Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (NCJMM) How to Use This Course
2 Chapter 2: Management of Care
2.1 Legal Rights and Responsibilities 2.2 Advance Directives and Self-Determination 2.3 Informed Consent Protocols 2.4 Client Advocacy and Rights (HIPAA) 2.5 Assignment, Delegation, and Supervision 2.6 Five Rights of Delegation 2.7 Scope of Practice (RN vs LPN vs UAP) 2.8 Ethical Practice Principles
3 Chapter 3: Safety and Infection Prevention and Control
3.1 Standard Precautions and Hand Hygiene 3.2 Transmission-Based Precautions (Contact, Droplet, Airborne) 3.3 PPE Donning and Doffing Sequences 3.4 Fall Prevention and Restraints 3.5 Fire Safety (RACE/PASS) 3.6 Disaster Triage and Emergency Response
4 Chapter 4: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4.1 Growth and Development (Erikson/Piaget) 4.2 Developmental Stages: Infancy through Older Adult 4.3 Maternal and Newborn Care (Antepartum) 4.4 Intrapartum Care and Fetal Monitoring 4.5 Postpartum Care (BUBBLE-HE) 4.6 Health Screening Guidelines 4.7 Immunization Schedules
5 Chapter 5: Psychosocial Integrity
5.1 Therapeutic Communication Techniques 5.2 Non-Therapeutic Communication (What to Avoid) 5.3 Anxiety Disorders and Mental Health Concepts 5.4 Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions 5.5 Depression and Suicide Assessment 5.6 Substance Misuse and Withdrawal 5.7 Grief and End-of-Life Care
6 Chapter 6: Basic Care and Comfort
6.1 Mobility and Hazards of Immobility 6.2 Assistive Devices (Crutches, Canes, Walkers) 6.3 Nutrition and Diet Therapy 6.4 Enteral Nutrition (Tube Feeding) 6.5 Bowel Elimination and Ostomy Care 6.6 Urinary Elimination and Catheter Care
7 Chapter 7: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
7.1 Medication Administration Rights 7.2 Medication Calculations 7.3 High-Alert Medications: Insulins 7.4 High-Alert Medications: Anticoagulants 7.5 High-Alert Medications: Opioids 7.6 High-Alert Medications: Digoxin and Electrolytes 7.7 IV Therapy and Complications 7.8 Blood Product Administration 7.9 Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
8 Chapter 8: Reduction of Risk Potential
8.1 Laboratory Values: Hematology (CBC) 8.2 Laboratory Values: Metabolic Panel (BMP) 8.3 Laboratory Values: Coagulation Studies 8.4 Vital Signs and Trend Recognition 8.5 Perioperative Care (Pre-Op and Post-Op) 8.6 Nasogastric Tubes and Therapeutic Procedures
9 Chapter 9: Physiological Adaptation
9.1 Fluid Imbalances (Hypovolemia and Hypervolemia) 9.2 Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs) and Acid-Base Balance 9.3 Medical Emergencies: Stroke (CVA) 9.4 Medical Emergencies: Myocardial Infarction (MONA) 9.5 Diabetic Emergencies (Hypoglycemia and DKA) 9.6 Respiratory Conditions (COPD, Pneumonia) 9.7 Cardiac Conditions (Heart Failure) 9.8 Neurological Conditions (Seizures)
2.6 Five Rights of Delegation
Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI
Right Task: The delegated task must be within the delegatee's legal scope of practice and facility policy
Right Circumstance: The patient must be stable with predictable outcomes; unstable patients require RN care
Right Person: The delegatee must have documented competency to perform the specific task being delegated
Right Direction/Communication: The RN must provide clear, specific instructions including what to report
Right Supervision/Evaluation: The RN must follow up to ensure the task was done correctly and interpret results
Last updated: October 2026
The Five Rights of Delegation provide a systematic framework for making safe delegation decisions. These rights are tested heavily on the NCLEX and guide clinical practice.
The Framework
Right Question to Ask
Right Task Can this task be legally delegated?
Right Circumstance Is this the right situation for delegation?
Right Person Is this person qualified to perform this task?
Right Direction Have I given clear, specific instructions?
Right Supervision Am I providing appropriate oversight?
Under the NCSBN/ANA 2019 guidelines, routine tasks within an aide's training (vital signs, hygiene, ambulation, I&O) are assignments; the five rights govern delegation of nursing tasks beyond the delegatee's usual role, and the same checks are a sound way to make any assignment.
Right Task
The task must be within the delegatee's scope of practice and facility policy .
Questions to Consider:
Is this task permitted by the Nurse Practice Act?
Does facility policy allow this task to be delegated?
Does the task require nursing judgment or assessment?
Is this a routine task with predictable outcomes?
- Usually assigned to AP (routine functions) Non-Delegable Tasks
- Routine vital signs on stable patients Initial assessment
- Hygiene and ADLs Evaluation of patient status
- Ambulation of stable patients Nursing diagnosis
- Feeding (no swallowing risk) Care planning
- Specimen collection Patient/family teaching
- Intake and output measurement Medication administration (varies by state)
- Right Circumstance
The patient must be stable and the setting must support safe delegation .
Stable Patient Characteristics:
- Vital signs within normal range
- Predictable clinical trajectory
- No complex monitoring needs
- Established care routines
Unstable Patient Indicators (DO NOT Delegate):
- Fluctuating vital signs
- Recent change in condition
- Post-procedure within monitoring period
- Complex or high-risk interventions needed
Scenario Delegate?
- Post-op day 3 patient, stable vitals Yes
- Patient 2 hours post-cardiac catheterization No
- Patient with new-onset chest pain No
- Long-term care patient, routine ADLs Yes
- Right Person
The delegatee must have demonstrated competency for the specific task.
RN Must Verify:
- Appropriate licensure or certification
- Skills check-off or competency documentation
- Experience with similar patients
- Comfort level with the task
- Level Competency Verification
- UAP (CNA) Skills check-off, orientation completion
- LPN/LVN License verification, skills competency
- New Graduate RN Preceptor oversight, demonstrated skills
Important: A person may be generally competent but not competent for a specific task. The RN must verify task-specific competency.
Right Direction/Communication
The RN must provide clear, concise, and specific instructions .
Effective Communication Includes:
- Component Example
- What to do "Measure blood pressure on the left arm"
- When to do it "Every 4 hours: 0800, 1200, 1600, 2000"
- How to report "Report immediately if systolic >160 or <90"
- What to expect "This patient's baseline is usually 130/80"
- Who to contact "I will be available in room 4, or use the call system"
Elements of Complete Direction:
- Specific data collection required
- Time frame for completion
- Expected findings (what is normal)
- Reporting parameters (what is abnormal)
- Priority level of the task
- Availability of the delegating nurse
- Right Supervision/Evaluation
The RN must follow up to ensure correct completion and interpret results.
Supervision Components:
- Component Action
- Monitoring Observe task completion when appropriate
- Follow-up Check on delegatee and patient periodically
- Evaluation Assess outcomes of delegated care
- Feedback Provide constructive feedback to delegatee
Levels of Supervision:
- Level When Used Example
- Continuous Learning new skill, complex task Direct observation throughout
- Intermittent Routine task, competent delegatee Check in periodically
- Available Stable situation, experienced staff Available for questions
- Applying the Five Rights: Case Example
Scenario: The RN considers assigning blood pressure monitoring to a UAP.
Right Assessment Meets Criteria?
- Task VS on stable patients is a routine AP function Yes
- Circumstance Patient is post-op day 3, stable Yes
- Person UAP completed skills check-off Yes
- Direction "Check BP q4h, report if <90 or >160 systolic" Yes
- Supervision RN will check documentation and patient q shift Yes
Result: The assignment is appropriate.
Common Delegation Errors
- Error Why It's Problematic
- Delegating assessment Requires nursing judgment
- Vague instructions Delegatee doesn't know what to report
- Assuming competency Person may not be trained for specific task
- No follow-up Outcomes not evaluated
- Delegating to unstable patients Requires RN assessment
- On the NCLEX
Questions test your ability to:
- Apply all five rights to clinical scenarios
- Recognize when delegation criteria are not met
- Provide appropriate direction and supervision
- Identify safe vs. unsafe delegation decisions
Exam Tip: If ANY of the five rights is not met, the delegation is inappropriate. Look for the right that is violated in NCLEX questions.